title: Molecular scale imaging of F-actin assemblies immobilized on a photopolymer surface.
abstract: A photo-immobilization based process is presented for direct imaging of hierarchical assemblies of biopolymers using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The technique was used to investigate the phase behavior of F-actin aggregates as a function of concentration of the divalent cation Mg2+. The data provided direct experimental evidence of a coil-on-coil (braided) structure of F-actin bundles formed at high Mg2+ concentrations. At intermediate Mg2+ concentrations, the data showed the first images of the two-dimensional nematic rafts discovered by recent x-ray studies and theoretical treatments.
authors.affiliation: Toyota Central R&D Laboratories Inc, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan. e1056@mosk.tytlabs.co.jp
authors.forename: Taiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikawa
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Youli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pincus
authors.forename: Cyrus R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Safinya
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry*; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D002412:Cations; D008027:Light; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers; D008274:Magnesium