IMAGING BACTERIOPHAGE-T4 ON PATTERNED ORGANOSILANE MONOLAYERS BY SCANNING FORCE MICROSCOPY

A patterned organosilane monolayer consisting of CH3-terminated island s surrounded by a CF3-terminated continuous phase is used as a templat e for controlling the adsorption of biological molecules. In coadsorpt ion of bovine serine albumin (BSA) and bacteriophage T4 and its tail t he T4 adheres to the CF3-terminated surfaces while the BSA is restrict ed to the CH3-terminated islands. The strong affinity of the T4 for th e continuous phase allows detailed imaging by scanning force microscop y in both topographic and frictional force modes. Structural features of the tail tubes are clearly recognized. The baseplates at end of the tubes exhibit different configurations, and in images of T4 obtained by frictional force one can clearly distinguish head, neck, tail, base plate and fibers. For giant T4 with elongated heads, the surface latti ce of he head and the sheath annuli of the tail are resolved in some d etail.