Single-molecule platform for drug discovery: methods and apparatuses for drug discovery, including discovery of anticancer and antiviral agents

1. A system for drug discovery, drug development, drug screening, or drug validation, the system comprising:

a sample chamber configured to contain a target protein, a nucleic acid that interacts with the target protein, and a drug candidate that may interfere with the target protein;

a measurement mechanism configured to manipulate the nucleic acid; and

a computing device comprising software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

control the measurement mechanism to maintain a constant tension on the nucleic acid during interaction of the nucleic acid with the target protein;

measure, via the measurement mechanism, a time-dependent signal representing an interaction between the nucleic acid and the target protein; and

compare the measured time-dependent signal to a baseline signal for the interaction between the nucleic acid and the target protein to determine whether the interaction is modified by the drug candidate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to determine whether the drug candidate blocks the interaction between the target protein and the nucleic acid.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to determine a mechanism of the interaction between the target protein and the drug candidate based on the measured time-dependent signal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement mechanism comprises one or more surfaces configured to bind the nucleic acid.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement mechanism comprises one or more beads configured to bind the nucleic acid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement mechanism comprises an optical trap configured to exert a force on the nucleic acid to maintain the constant tension.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement mechanism comprises a magnetic trap configured to exert a force on the nucleic acid to maintain the constant tension.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the time-dependent signal comprises a mechanical signature of the interaction of the nucleic acid with the target protein.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical signature comprises a change in an elasticity of the nucleic acid.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical signature comprises a velocity of the target protein relative to the nucleic acid.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical signature comprises a deformation of the nucleic acid.

12. The system of claim 1 , comprising the target protein.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the target protein is an enzyme.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the enzyme is a nucleic acid polymerase.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement mechanism is configured to immobilize a first end of the nucleic acid and exert a force on a second end of the nucleic acid to maintain the constant tension on the nucleic acid.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to advance or eliminate the drug candidate in a drug trial based on the determination of whether the interaction is modified by the drug candidate.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

determine a mechanism of interference of the drug candidate with the interaction between the nucleic acid and the target protein; and

advance or eliminate the drug candidate in a drug trial based on the mechanism of interference.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microwell plate, wherein:

the sample chamber is a microwell positioned on the microwell plate;

the microwell plate comprises a plurality of additional microwells, each configured to contain a target protein, a nucleic acid that interacts with the target protein, and a drug candidate that may interfere with the target protein;

the measurement mechanism is configured to manipulate the nucleic acid in each of the plurality of additional microwells; and

the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

control the measurement mechanism to maintain a constant tension on the nucleic acid in each of the plurality of additional microwells during interaction of the nucleic acid in each of the plurality of additional microwells with the target protein in each of the plurality of additional microwells;

measure, via the measurement mechanism, a time-dependent signal for each of the plurality of additional microwells representing an interaction between the nucleic acid and the target protein in each of the plurality of additional microwells; and

compare each microwell's measured time-dependent signal to a baseline signal for the interaction of the microwell's nucleic acid and target protein to determine whether the interaction in each microwell is modified by the drug candidate.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the computing device comprises software instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to advance or eliminate the drug candidate of each microwell in a drug trial.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the nucleic acid and target protein in at least some of the microwells is the same.