Controlling the motility of ATP-driven molecular motors using high hydrostatic pressure

Abstract

High-pressure microscopy is a powerful technique for visualizing the effects of hydrostatic pressure on research targets. It can be used for monitoring the pressure-induced changes in the structure and function of molecular machines in vitro and in vivo. This chapter focuses on the use of high-pressure microscopy to measure the dynamic properties of molecular machines. We describe a high-pressure microscope that is optimized both for the best image formation and for stability under high hydrostatic pressure. The developed system allows us to visualize the motility of ATP-driven molecular motors under high pressure. The techniques described could be extended to study the detailed mechanism by which molecular machines work efficiently in collaboration with water molecules.