gradually ripping the protein (or pair) apart. Consider this cartoon
representation of the procedure
-[[!img afm_protein_pulling_cartoon.jpg class="scaled"
+[[!img afm_protein_pulling_cartoon.jpg
alt="Protein unfolding cartoon"
title="Protein unfolding cartoon"]]
The procedure yields 'force curves' like this
-[[!img force_curve_regions.png class="scaled"
+[[!img force_curve_regions.png
alt="Protein unfolding force curve"
title="Protein unfolding force curve"]]
of the AFM tip (or the substrate), and the deflection of the
now-free cantilever ceases to depend on distance.
-[[!img force_curve_regions_cantilever.png class="scaled"
+[[!img force_curve_regions_cantilever.png
alt="Force curve cantilever positions"
title="Force curve cantilever positions"]]