Single-Molecule Perspectives on the Structure, Dynamics, and Interactions of Nucleic Acids and Proteins

Many of the governing principles of biological regulation remain obscured by ensemble-averaged measurements because they are inherently dynamic, stochastic, and heterogeneous. The study of single-molecule biophysics has fundamentally changed the way we understand nucleic acids and proteins by enabling direct observation of individual biomolecules, thus revealing transient conformational states, kinetic heterogeneity, and rare, but functionally critical intermediates that underlie the functioning of biological cells. As a result of these advances, the field has moved from static structural descriptions toward a more mechanistic, time-resolved understanding of molecular behavior.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent conceptual and technical advances that leverage single-molecule methodologies to explore nucleic acids and proteins in their structure, dynamics, and interactions.

We invite contributions using state-of-the-art approaches such as single-molecule fluorescence and FRET, super-resolution microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers, atomic force microscopy, nanopore-based measurements, and integrative platforms combining force spectroscopy, imaging, and computational modeling. We will place special emphasis on studies that provide mechanistic insights into conformational dynamics, energy landscapes, force-dependent transitions, molecular recognition, and the assembly and regulation of nucleoprotein complexes under physiologically relevant conditions.

An extensive range of fundamental and biologically contextualized investigations are included in this Special Issue, including, but not limited to:
• DNA and RNA folding and remodeling
• Transcription and translation regulation,
• Chromatin organization
• Protein-nucleic acid interactions
• Co-transcription.

We are particularly interested in contributions that integrate single-molecule observations with ensemble measurements, structural biology, or in-vivo studies, as well as methodological and analytical innovations that enhance the interpretability, throughput, or quantitative rigor of single-molecule experiments.
By assembling contributions from across the single-molecule community, this Special Issue aims to provide a coherent and forward-looking perspective on how molecular-level dynamics and interactions give rise to biological function, as well as define emerging directions and unresolved challenges in single-molecule biophysics.

Authors are welcome to submit articles presenting original studies or literature review work. Please consult the journal's information regarding Article Types, Author Guidelines, and Publishing Fees, or direct any questions to the Editorial Office: abp@frontierspartnerships.org.

Even though abstract submission is not mandatory, we encourage all interested researchers to submit a “manuscript summary” before submitting their article. Manuscript summaries do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the article.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Integrative structural biology, Single-molecule biophysics, Nucleic acid structure and dynamics, Protein - nucleic acid interactions, smFRET and single-molecule spectroscopy