A look at membrane patches with a scanning force microscope.
We combined scanning force microscopy with patch-clamp techniques in the same experimental setup and obtained images of excised membrane patches spanning the tip of a glass pipette. These images indicate that cytoskeleton structures are still present in such membrane patches and form a strong connection between the membrane and the glass wall. This gives the membrane patch the appearance of a tent, stabilized by a scaffold of ropes. The lateral resolution of the images depends strongly on the observed structures and can reach values as low as 10 nm on the cytoskeleton elements of a (inside-out) patch. The observations suggest that measurements of membrane elasticity can be made, opening the way for further studies on mechanical properties of cell membranes.
Hörber
J K
JK
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
Mosbacher
J
J
Häberle
W
W
Ruppersberg
J P
JP
Sakmann
B
B
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008961:Models, Structural; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014982:Xenopus laevis