HIGH-RESOLUTION SURFACE-STRUCTURE OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI GROES OLIGOMER BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in aqueous solution, we show that the surface structure of the oligomeric GroES can be obtained up to 10 Angstrom resolution, The seven subunits of the heptamer were web reso lved without image averaging. The overall dimension of the GroES hepta mer was 8.4+/-0.4 nm in diameter and 3.0+/-0.3 nm high, However, the A FM images further suggest that there is a central protrusion of 0.8+/- 0.2 nm high and 4.5+/-0.4 nm in diameter on one side of GroES which di splays a profound seven-fold symmetry, It was found that GroEL could n ot bind to the adsorbed GroES in the presence of AMP-PNP and Mg2+, sug gesting that the side of GroES with the central protrusion faces away from the GroEL lumen, because only one side of GroES was observed unde r these conditions. Based on the results from both electron and atomic force microscopy, a surface model for the GroES is proposed.