Morphology of native and reconstituted biological membranes and their components analysed with atomic force microscopy (original) (raw)
The atomic force microscope can image the threedimensional surface structure of soft biological membranes and their components in a physiological environment. Living macrophages prior to and after particle phagocytosis allowed low-resolution images by AFM. An active change of cell shape by mechanical stimulation is observed. Indentation depths of 1-30 nm were derived as function of cell preparation. High-resolution images were achieved for TexasRed IgG antibodies specifically bound to a mica-supported planar phospholipid bilayer doped with phospholipids containing headgroups of TexasRed. The cloned nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expressed in Xenopus oocytes were imaged at molecular resolution. An unambiguous identification of individual single nAChR proteins is hindered by the presence of endogenous membrane proteins. For the first time we introduce a favorable membrane system: the vacuolar membrane of plant cells, which allows the molecular identification of integral endogenous membrane proteins and a structural analysis of the lipid matrix.
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