Conformations and cryo-force spectroscopy of spray-deposited single-strand DNA on gold

Cryo-electron microscopy can determine the structure of biological matter in vitrified liquids. However, structure alone is insufficient to understand the function of native and engineered biomolecules. So far, their mechanical properties have mainly been probed at room temperature using tens of pic...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pawlak, Rémy, Vilhena Albuquerque D'Orey, José Guilherme, Hinaut, Antoine, Meier, Tobias, Glatzel, Thilo, Baratoff, Alexis, Gnecco, Enrico, Pérez Pérez, Rubén, Meyer, Ernst
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repositorio:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/690492
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10486/690492
https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08531-4
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cryoelectron Microscopy
DNA, Single-Stranded
Gold
Microscopy, Atomic Force
Molecular Conformation
DNA
DNA nanostructures
Single-molecule biophysics
Física
Descripción
Sumario:Cryo-electron microscopy can determine the structure of biological matter in vitrified liquids. However, structure alone is insufficient to understand the function of native and engineered biomolecules. So far, their mechanical properties have mainly been probed at room temperature using tens of pico-newton forces with a resolution limited by thermal fluctuations. Here we combine force spectroscopy and computer simulations in cryogenic conditions to quantify adhesion and intra-molecular properties of spray-deposited single-strand DNA oligomers on Au(111). Sub-nanometer resolution images reveal folding conformations confirmed by simulations. Lifting shows a decay of the measured stiffness with sharp dips every 0.2–0.3 nm associated with the sequential peeling and detachment of single nucleotides. A stiffness of 30–35 N m −1 per stretched repeat unit is deduced in the nano-newton range. This combined study suggests how to better control cryo-force spectroscopy of adsorbed heterogeneous (bio)polymer and to potentially enable single-base recognition in DNA strands only few nanometers long