Single-Molecule Studies of Biomolecules

Imaging biological processes at the single-molecule scale enables the direct observation of the temporal and spatial dynamics of cellular processes. This relatively new branch of biophysical investigation, which was founded on a platform of physics and chemistry research, is pushing forward the frontiers of medical science by providing unprecedented new illuminations into the molecular basis of life. Although it is far from comprehensive, this article provides the advanced reader with a review of single-molecule methods, as well as a discussion of the aims, considerations, achievements, and future directions of this field in the context of ongoing investigations of structure–function relationships inherent to biomolecules.

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