title: Direct observations of freeze-etching processes of ice-embedded biomembranes by atomic force microscopy.
abstract: We have fabricated a cryogenic atomic force microscope that is designed for structural investigation of freeze-fractured biological specimens. The apparatus is operated in liquid nitrogen gas at atmospheric pressure. Freeze-fracturing, freeze-etching and subsequent imaging are carried out in the same chamber, so that the surface topography of a fractured plane is easily visualized without ice contamination. A controlled superficial sublimation of volatile molecules allows us to obtain three-dimensional views of ultrastructures of biological membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-Cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kouyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005613:Freeze Etching / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005614:Freeze Fracturing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007053:Ice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D009218:Myosins / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D009218:Myosins