Molecular-scale imaging of unstained deoxyribonucleic acid fibers by phase transmission electron microscopy

The molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fibers was observed by a phase reconstruction method called three-dimensional Fourier filtering using a 200kV transmission electron microscope. The characteristic helical structure and the spacing of adjacent base pairs of DNA were partially res...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Applied physics letters 2006-09, Vol.89 (13)
Hauptverfasser: Takai, Yoshizo, Nomaguchi, Tsunenori, Matsushita, Shuhei, Kimura, Yoshihide
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:The molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fibers was observed by a phase reconstruction method called three-dimensional Fourier filtering using a 200kV transmission electron microscope. The characteristic helical structure and the spacing of adjacent base pairs of DNA were partially resolved due to an improved signal-to-noise ratio and resolution enhancement by the phase reconstruction although the molecular structure was damaged by the electron beam irradiation. In the spherical aberration-free phase images, the arrangements of single atom-sized spots forming sinusoidal curves were sometimes observed, which seem to be the contrast originating in the sulfur atoms along the main chains.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.2357564