A Simple and Practical Spreadsheet-Based Method to Extract Single-Molecule Dissociation Kinetics from Variable Loading-Rate Force Spectroscopy Data

A simple, practical, and model-free method is presented, by which kinetic data can be extracted from variable loading-rate single molecule dynamic force spectroscopy experiments. The constant sampling rate of digital acquisition facilitates the sorting of multiple force curves into histograms that reflect the collective force-time history of the bonds of interest. Combining the force-time history with similar histograms of force-induced events, in particular bond rupture, gives a direct measure of rate vs applied force. The utility of the method is demonstrated through its application to simulated data.