Scanning tunnelling microscopy of biomacromolecules.
When imaging biomacromolecules with a STM, coating of specimens with a conductive layer is a convenient preparation method which provides a good rate of success. Utilizing evaporated platinum/carbon as a coating film we have investigated two biomacromolecules of very different appearance. The first of these is the HPI-layer, a natural two-dimensional protein crystal with a period of 18 nm, which is found on the surface of the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. The second specimen is type IV collagen which forms long triple-helical strands approx. 1.5 nm in diameter. The resulting STM pictures compare very well with electron microscopical images.
Guckenberger
R
R
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Federal Republic of Germany.
Wiegräbe
W
W
Baumeister
W
W
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003460:Crystallization; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000032:analysis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D003094:Collagen