Cluster-ion bombardment of biological macromolecules: morphological evidence for disassembly of single tobacco mosaic virus particles

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.84.1.85· OSTI ID:5603416

Ledbetter, M C; Beuhler, R J; Friedman, L

Cluster ions containing 50, 100, or 200 water molecules and one proton are accelerated to over 275 kV and impacted on thin carbon films on which tobacco mosaic virus has been dispersed. After bombardment the films are examined with a transmission electron microscope to study induced morphological alterations with respect to the energy transfer processes that take place during and after single cluster-ion impact. Observations on tobacco mosaic virus indicate that a single cluster impact results in the removal of a cylindrical segment of the virus. No fragments from the excised TMV segment were observed on the carbon foil. The authors speculate that cluster-ion bombardment may become a useful analytical technique for structural studies of large biological macromolecular complexes.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5603416
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 84:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES
COCKCROFT-WALTON ACCELERATORS
ION COLLISIONS
ION PAIRS
ACCELERATORS
COLLISIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELECTROSTATIC ACCELERATORS
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PARASITES
VIRUSES
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture