The dual-trap C-Trap dymo 300 combines optical tweezers, multichannel microfluidics, fluorescence microscopy, and label-free imaging in a single, integrated system that allows the study of biomolecular interactions and dynamics at the single-molecule level.
The C-Trap facilitates direct manipulation and visualization of biomolecules like DNA, RNA, and proteins in real-time and under physiologically relevant conditions, as well as the correlated measure of the forces associated with molecular structure, interactions and biomechanical properties.
The dual-trap C-trap dymo 300, located at KB.G4 (4.07.14) (Photo: Rubén Casanova Sáez )
Key features of the C-trap dymo 300
Optical tweezers: two highly focused laser beams are used to trap microscopic objects, such as beads coated with or bound to your biomolecule of interest. This allows for precise manipulation of biomolecules by controlling the xyz position of the laser-generated "tweezers".
Force detection and spectroscopy: the tiny forces exerted on the laser traps as molecules interact or undergo conformational changes, are measured in real-time and with high precision, down to sub-picoNewton levels. The system can apply forces in the range of 0.1-1000 pN.
High resolution: the C-trap allows sub-nanometer and sub-millisecond spatial and temporal resolution, enabling precise control over biomolecular interactions.
Super-resolution imaging: capable of confocal fluorescence imaging with a resolution of 50 nm, and an ultimate protein localization accuracy of <10 nm.
Highly sensitive detection: the single-photon counting module (SPCM) can detect individual photons emitted by fluorescent molecules. This allows for extremely sensitive detection of low-intensity fluorescence signals. The system is also designed to reject background noise, improving the signal-to-noise ratio and enabling detection of single molecules even in complex biological samples.
Correlatred measurements: the C-trap can measure molecular forces in real-time, while simultaneously visualizing the biomolecules.
Microfluidics: the C-trap uses a laminar flow setup to ensure precise control over fluid movement, minimizing turbulence and mixing. It includes 5-channel flowcells allowing for parallel experiments under different chemical conditions without cross-contamination.
Temperature Control: experiments can be performed under controlled temperature conditions, which is crucial for maintaining physiological relevance. Both the condenser and the objective lens are temperature-controlled, ensuring consistent thermal conditions during experiments. The temperature control range is Room temperature to 45°C.
Services
The Facility will assist in the planning and data collection of single-molecule visualization and correlated force detection experiments:
- DNA/RNA-protein interactions
- Direct visualization
- Forces involved
- Binding kinetics
- Conformational changes in biomolecules
- Single-protein folding/unfolding properties
- DNA or RNA secondary structures
- Visualization and manipulation of dynamic molecular events in real time
- DNA or RNA replication
- Transcription
- Translation
- DNA repair
- Phase separation
- Biomechanical properties of molecules and cell membranes/walls
- Mechanical properties of biomolecules under different conditions
- Chromatin organization
- Cell wall-wall and wall-membrane interactions
- Viral protein-cell membrane interactions
- Interactions with cell surface proteins (e.g. immunological studies)
- And more… come to us with your project/ideas!
Bookings
To book the C-trap instrument, please go to our internal booking system at https://www.upsc.se/about-upsc/internal/room-a-instrument-booker.html and select Microscopes: Optical tweezers.
New users must first be registered as users to be able to use the booking system. Please contact
User fees
The user fee for the C-trap instrument is 625 sek/hour. However, due to calibration time of the instrument, bookings are available in morning/afternoon slots of a minimum of 4 hours.
Resources
Link to the user guidelines:
20250219_C_trap_User_Guidelines.pdf
List of published work using a C-trap instrument
Video links:
Schematic overview of C-Trap applications
Typical experiment on DNA-protein interaction at the C-Trap
Steering group
Åsa Strand, Prof., Dept. of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Marta Bally, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University
Magnus Andersson, Prof., Dept. of Physics, Umeå University
Stefan Björklund, Prof., Dept. of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University
Stéphane Verger, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Rubén Casanova Sáez, C-Trap manager, Dept. of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
Funding
The purchase of the C-trap instrument was funded by the Kempestiftelserna (JCSMK23-0151), the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Medicine and by the Department of Plant Physiology.
Running of the C-Trap Facility (including service contract) needs to be covered by the user fees.
Contact
For further information please contact:
Rubén Casanova Sáez
C-Trap manager
+46(0)72 947 57 19