Imaging DNA Structure by Atomic Force Microscopy.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a microscopy technique that uses a sharp probe to trace a sample surface at nanometre resolution. For biological applications, one of its key advantages is its ability to visualize substructure of single molecules and molecular complexes in an aqueous environment. Here, we describe the application of AFM to determine superstructure and secondary structure of surface-bound DNA. The method is also readily applicable to probe DNA-DNA interactions and DNA-protein complexes.
London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH, UK. alice.pyne@ucl.ac.uk.
Alice L B
AL
Pyne
London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, 17-19 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH, UK. b.hoogenboom@ucl.ac.uk.
Bart W
BW
Hoogenboom
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA
AFM; Atomic force microscopy; DNA; DNA–protein binding; Double helix; Supercoiling