In this short review paper we briefly introduce recent results from our research work on the manipulation of single biological molecules deposited on the surface of mica by using scanning force microscopes: results of a cooperation between the Shanghai joint group and the University of Saarland on the manipulation of single DNA molecules and some possible applications based on single molecule manipulation and structural characterization. These results emanate from the Shanghai research teams in studying DNA molecular combing, cutting, pushing and pick-up. Future prospects are briefly outlined.

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We report a DNA origami-facilitated single-molecule platform that exploits atomic force microscopy to study DNA replication. We imaged several functional activities of the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I (KF) including binding, moving, and dissociation from the template DNA. Upon completion of these actions, a double-stranded DNA molecule was formed. Furthermore, the direction of KF activities was captured and then confirmed by shifting the KF binding sites on the template DNA.