@misc{HeckMichaeliBaldetal.2018, author = {Heck, Christian and Michaeli, Yael and Bald, Ilko and Ebenstein, Yuval}, title = {Analytical epigenetics}, series = {Current Opinion in Biotechnology}, volume = {55}, journal = {Current Opinion in Biotechnology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {London}, issn = {0958-1669}, doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2018.09.006}, pages = {151 -- 158}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The field of epigenetics describes the relationship between genotype and phenotype, by regulating gene expression without changing the canonical base sequence of DNA. It deals with molecular genomic information that is encoded by a rich repertoire of chemical modifications and molecular interactions. This regulation involves DNA, RNA and proteins that are enzymatically tagged with small molecular groups that alter their physical and chemical properties. It is now clear that epigenetic alterations are involved in development and disease, and thus, are the focus of intensive research. The ability to record epigenetic changes and quantify them in rare medical samples is critical for next generation diagnostics. Optical detection offers the ultimate single-molecule sensitivity and the potential for spectral multiplexing. Here we review recent progress in ultrasensitive optical detection of DNA and histone modifications.}, language = {en} } @misc{BaldKeller2014, author = {Bald, Ilko and Keller, Adrian}, title = {Molecular processes studied at a single-molecule level using DNA origami nanostructures and atomic force microscopy}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {19}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {9}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules190913803}, pages = {13803 -- 13823}, year = {2014}, abstract = {DNA origami nanostructures allow for the arrangement of different functionalities such as proteins, specific DNA structures, nanoparticles, and various chemical modifications with unprecedented precision. The arranged functional entities can be visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) which enables the study of molecular processes at a single-molecular level. Examples comprise the investigation of chemical reactions, electron-induced bond breaking, enzymatic binding and cleavage events, and conformational transitions in DNA. In this paper, we provide an overview of the advances achieved in the field of single-molecule investigations by applying atomic force microscopy to functionalized DNA origami substrates.}, language = {en} }