A method for imaging E. coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme with the scanning tunneling microscope in an aqueous environment
- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (United States)
An electrodeposition method has been developed for depositing E. coli RNA polymerase onto a monoatomically flat gold surface. The scanning tunneling microscope has been used to image this enzyme in a high-humidity or water/glycerol environment, which allows direct observation without metal coating. The deposition technique is reproducible enough to allow optimization of the deposition parameters for controlled electrodeposition. Time-dependence studies were conducted to help determine the binding mechanism of the protein. The enzyme molecules appear as ordered arrays, amorphous features, or jaw-shaped' molecules depending on the deposition conditions used. The jaw-shaped' molecules closely resemble those observed by electron microscopy. In some of these a groove 22 {angstrom} wide can be seen.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7007102
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. B, Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena; (United States), Vol. 9:2; ISSN 0734-211X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
RNA POLYMERASES
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CYTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
SAMPLE PREPARATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENZYMES
MICROSCOPY
MIXTURES
NUCLEOTIDYLTRANSFERASES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS-GROUP TRANSFERASES
POLYMERASES
PROTEINS
SOLUTIONS
TRANSFERASES
550200* - Biochemistry