title: Controlling protein adsorption on graphene for cryo-EM using low-energy hydrogen plasmas.
abstract: Despite its many favorable properties as a sample support for biological electron microscopy, graphene is not widely used because its hydrophobicity precludes reliable protein deposition. We describe a method to modify graphene with a low-energy hydrogen plasma, which reduces hydrophobicity without degrading the graphene lattice. Use of plasma-treated graphene enables better control of protein distribution in ice for electron cryo-microscopy and improves image quality by reducing radiation-induced sample motion.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Passmore
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D006108:Graphite; D006859:Hydrogen
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