Atomic force microscopy with nanoscale cantilevers resolves different structural conformations of the DNA double helix.
Structural variability and flexibility are crucial factors for biomolecular function. Here we have reduced the invasiness and enhanced the spatial resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize, for the first time, different structural conformations of the two polynucleotide strands in the DNA double helix, for single molecules under near-physiological conditions. This is achieved by identifying and tracking the anomalous resonance behavior of nanoscale AFM cantilevers in the immediate vicinity of the sample.
London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH, United Kingdom. carl.lsc@gmail.com
Carl
C
Leung
Aizhan
A
Bestembayeva
Richard
R
Thorogate
Jake
J
Stinson
Alice
A
Pyne
Christian
C
Marcovich
Jinling
J
Yang
Ute
U
Drechsler
Michel
M
Despont
Tilo
T
Jankowski
Martin
M
Tschöpe
Bart W
BW
Hoogenboom
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry
D004247:DNA