SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPY OF DNA

Yao Xiaowei，

Xu Yaoliang，

Hu Jun，

Gu Minming，

Li Minqian

Nuclear Science and Techniques

Vol.2, No.3

pp.169-171

Published in print 01 Aug 1991

31400

Uncoated DNA deposited on graphite surface was imaged in air with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The images revealed a helical pitch of 3.6 nm whereas the average width was 2.3nm. Periodic alternation of major and minor grooves were resolved with high resolution. Our STM images were in reasonable agreement with the B- form DNA structural model derived from X- ray diffraction studies. It was concluded that the STM could be useful for local structural studies of biomolecules.

STMB- DNA

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