Force Spectroscopy in Mechanical Protein Domains Unfolding.

Single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) has emerged since the past few years as a prominent set of techniques, within the broader field of atomic force microscopy (AFM), for the study of interactions and binding forces of individual protein molecules. Since force spectroscopy measures the behavior of a molecule when stretching or torsional mechanical force is applied, it can be an excellent tool in the hands of researchers who study protein folding and misfolding mechanisms, by reverse engineering the forced unfolding. Such studies could be of crucial importance in the field of protein-related diseases. In this review we wish to provide a glimpse at SMFS concept and recent advances, paired with the protein misfolding issue in neurodegenerative diseases.