Figure 2.

(A) Force loading rate graph showing the most probable dissociation force $F^{⁎}$ plotted versus the logarithmic loading rate $\ln (r)$. Colors represent Dsg2 wildtype in green, Dsg2- p.D105E (p.D154E) in red and Dsg2-p.V343I (p.V392I) in yellow. The error bars of $F^{⁎}$ are estimated by the standard error of the mean (SEM) and were used for a weighted fit of the Evans and Ritchie model (Eq. 2). Inset: The uncertainty of the estimated parameters $k_{-}^0$ and $x^{‡}$ result from the covariance matrix of the fitted model and the uncertainty of the cantilever spring constant. (B) Proposed free energy landscape of Dsg2 strand exchange binding exposes a small energy difference between bound and unbound state $\mathrm{\Delta }{G}_0$ and a high activation barrier $\mathrm{\Delta }{G}^{‡}$. Dsg2 monomers dimerize when their intermolecular distance go below the reaction length $x^{‡}$.