ATP Synthesis by Single F_oF₁ Molecules Encapsulated in a Femto-litter Chamber

Abstract

We developed a micron-sized reaction chamber array of a few femtoliters that enables us to detect biological reactions at a single molecule level. By encapsulating a single molecules of β-galactosidase in chambers, a fluoregenic enzyme assay at a single enzyme was successively performed. The chamber array was also utilized to determine the mechanochemical coupling efficiency of F₁-ATPase, a rotary motor protein. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of this small reaction chamber array for highly sensitive detection of biological reactions.