Ultra-high resolution imaging of DNA and nucleosomes using non-contact atomic force microscopy

FEBS Lett. 2005 Mar 14;579(7):1702-6. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.02.028.

Abstract

Visualisation of nano-scale biomolecules aids understanding and development in molecular biology and nanotechnology. Detailed structure of nucleosomes adsorbed to mica has been captured in the absence of chemical-anchoring techniques, demonstrating the usefulness of non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) for ultra-high resolution biomolecular imaging. NC-AFM offers significant advantages in terms of resolution, speed and ease of sample preparation when compared to techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. In the absence of chemical modification, detailed structure of DNA deposited on a gold substrate was observed for the first time using NC-AFM, opening up possibilities for investigating the electrical properties of unmodified DNA.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Silicates / chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / ultrastructure*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleosomes / chemistry
  • Nucleosomes / ultrastructure*

Substances

  • Aluminum Silicates
  • Nucleosomes
  • DNA
  • mica