Exploring Physical Mechanism of Biological Phenomena: From Single-Molecule Mechanics to Dynamic Live-Cell Microscopy.

Seok-Cheol Hong^1,2*

¹Physics, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
²Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science, Korea

* Presenter:Seok-Cheol Hong, email:hongsc@korea.ac.kr

The biological world is immensely complex, heterogeneous, and can be understood across various spatiotemporal scales. Biological phenomena arise from physical and chemical interactions among multiple diverse factors, from molecular complexes and intracellular organelles to cells and beyond. These interactions must be examined through broad spatial hierarchies and dynamic temporal perspectives to grasp their true nature. Recognizing the extreme complexity of biological phenomena that physics aims to uncover, the field of physics has developed tools that not only sensitively and selectively detect small molecules but also enable precise physical control and measurement. Furthermore, tools have been developed to explore the intricate and heterogeneous interior of cells. In this talk, I will share insights gained from studying the mechanics of DNA, the fundamental molecule of life, using single-molecule manipulation techniques, as well as observations of nanoparticle dynamics and intracellular transport characteristics obtained through label-free, high-sensitivity imaging technologies.

Keywords: single-molecule biophysics, label-free cell imaging by iSCAT, mechanics of Z-DNA, cellular cargo transport, nanoparticle tracking