Abstract
Scanning probe microscopes are now established tools to study the surface structure of biological macromolecules under physiological conditions. Sample preparation methods for this microscopy all have the objective to attach the specimen firmly to a support. Here we analyse the commonly used method of adsorbing biological specimens to freshly cleaved mica. This is facilitated by adjusting the electrolyte concentration and the pH of the buffer solution. Native macromolecular systems absorbed to mica in this way can be reproducibly imaged at submolecular resolution.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adsorption
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Aluminum Silicates
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Amyloid / ultrastructure
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Aquaporin 1
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Aquaporins*
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure
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Bacteriophages / ultrastructure
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Blood Group Antigens
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Buffers
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Capsid / ultrastructure
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Capsid Proteins*
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Cell Membrane / ultrastructure*
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Electrolytes
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Humans
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Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
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Ion Channels / ultrastructure
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Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
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Liposomes*
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Microscopy, Atomic Force* / methods
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Phosphatidylethanolamines
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Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / ultrastructure
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Proteins / ultrastructure*
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Purple Membrane / ultrastructure
Substances
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AQP1 protein, human
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Aluminum Silicates
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Amyloid
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Aquaporins
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
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Blood Group Antigens
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Buffers
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Capsid Proteins
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Electrolytes
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Ion Channels
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Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
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Liposomes
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Phosphatidylethanolamines
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Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
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Proteins
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portal protein, bacteriophage phi29
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Aquaporin 1
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mica