Studies at the single molecule level have brought forth many new aspects of the way the molecules are being understood. Single molecules provide clearly defined mode of actions and interactions for both high frequency and low frequency events, revealing insights beyond what can be detected in conventional experiments using bulk quantities of samples. We have a collaborative effort with Visigen Biotechnologies to develop novel DNA sequencing technologies based on single molecule real time sequence reading. In this method, chemically or biochemically engineered dNTPs and polymerase proteins are made so that they become signaling pairs. Figure 7 displays the structure of a DNA polymerase (Taq PDB 3KTQ) complexed with substrates (template strand, primer strand, and dNTP).

Figure 7. Structure of a DNA polymerase (Taq PDB 3KTQ) complexed with substrates (template strand, primer strand, and dNTP).