Chemical treatment of mica for atomic force microscopy can affect biological sample conformation.
An important aspect in the preparation of substrate materials to use in atomic force microscopy lies in the question of interactions introduced by treatments designed to immobilize the sample over the substrate. Here we used a mica substrate that was chemically modified with cationic nickel to immobilize actin filaments (F-actin). Chemical modification could be followed quantitatively by measuring the interaction force between the scanning tip and the mica surface. This approach allowed us to observe polymeric F-actin in a structure that resembles an actin gel. It also improved sample throughput and conferred sample stability as well as repeatability from run to run.
Costa
Lilian T
LT
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949-900, Brazil.
Pinto
José R
JR
Moraes
Marta B
MB
de Souza
Guttierre G B
GG
Sorenson
Martha M
MM
Bisch
Paulo M
PM
Weissmüller
Gilberto
G
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel; C011934:mica