Mapping the interaction sites of Mucin 1 and DNA aptamer by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is an attractive tumor marker for cancer diagnosis. An advanced atomic force microscopy (AFM) mode, peak-force tapping AFM with an aptamer functionalized tip, was introduced to map the specific interaction sites of an aptamer and MUC1. Single molecular force spectroscopy (SMFS) was used to investigate dynamic parameters of the aptamer–MUC1.