Direct visualization of charge transport in suspended (or free-standing) DNA strands by low-energy electron microscopy

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 20;9(1):8889. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45351-4.

Abstract

Low-energy electrons offer a unique possibility for long exposure imaging of individual biomolecules without significant radiation damage. In addition, low-energy electrons exhibit high sensitivity to local potentials and thus can be employed for imaging charges as small as a fraction of one elementary charge. The combination of these properties makes low-energy electrons an exciting tool for imaging charge transport in individual biomolecules. Here we demonstrate the imaging of individual deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules at the resolution of about 1 nm with simultaneous imaging of the charging of the DNA molecules that is of the order of less than one elementary charge per nanometer. The cross-correlation analysis performed on different sections of the DNA network reveals that the charge redistribution between the two regions is correlated. Thus, low-energy electron microscopy is capable to provide simultaneous imaging of macromolecular structure and its charge distribution which can be beneficial for imaging and constructing nano-bio-sensors.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / ultrastructure*
  • Microscopy, Electron / methods*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation

Substances

  • DNA