Direct imaging of DNA fibers: the visage of double helix

Nano Lett. 2012 Dec 12;12(12):6453-8. doi: 10.1021/nl3039162. Epub 2012 Nov 28.

Abstract

Direct imaging becomes important when the knowledge at few/single molecule level is requested and where the diffraction does not allow to get structural and functional information. Here we report on the direct imaging of double stranded (ds) λ-DNA in the A conformation, obtained by combining a novel sample preparation method based on super hydrophobic DNA molecules self-aggregation process with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experimental breakthrough is the production of robust and highly ordered paired DNA nanofibers that allowed its direct TEM imaging and the double helix structure revealing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophage lambda / chemistry
  • Bacteriophage lambda / genetics*
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry*
  • DNA, Viral / ultrastructure*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Nanofibers / chemistry
  • Nanofibers / ultrastructure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation

Substances

  • DNA, Viral