T. Muller-reichert et H. Gross, Microscopic analysis of DNA and DNA-protein assembly by transmission electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning force microscopy, SCANNING MICROSCOPY SUPPLEMENT 10, 1996, 1996, pp. 111-121
To investigate DNA and DNA-protein assembly, nucleic acids were adsorbed to
freshly cleaved mica in the presence of magnesium ions. The efficiency of
DNA adhesion and the distribution of the molecules on the mica surface were
checked by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, various kinds of
DNA-protein interactions including DNA wrapping and DNA supercoiling were
analyzed using electron microscopy. In parallel, this Mg2+/mica method can
be applied (1) to analyze embedded DNA by scanning tunneling microscopy, (2
) to visualize freeze-dried, metal coated DNA-protein complexes by tunnelin
g microscopy, and (3) to image DNA or DNA-protein interaction in air or in
liquid by scanning force microscopy. An advantage of such a correlative app
roach is that parallel imaging can reveal complementary information. The be
nefit of such a combined approach in analysis of protein-induced DNA bendin
g is discussed.