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Salt‐dependent chromosome viscoelasticity characterized by scanning force microscopy‐based volume measurements
Author(s) -
Fritzsche Wolfgang
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19990301)44:5<357::aid-jemt7>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - viscoelasticity , scanning force microscopy , ionic strength , elasticity (physics) , atomic force microscopy , ionic bonding , microscopy , elastic modulus , chemistry , materials science , chromosome , analytical chemistry (journal) , biophysics , composite material , optics , nanotechnology , ion , chromatography , biology , physics , biochemistry , aqueous solution , organic chemistry , gene
Metaphase chromosomes prepared according to the standard spreading procedure exhibit viscoelastical behavior after rehydration. The salt‐dependency of this elasticity was investigated using contact mode scanning force microscopy (SFM). Therefore, chromosomes were imaged in solutions of different ionic strength (0.3 x PBS and water). The elasticity was probed by stepwise increase of the loading force of the scanning tip, resulting in a set of images. The images were used for the determination of the height and the apparent volume of each chromosome, and these values were the base for a characterization of the viscoelastical response of the chromosomes under different salt conditions. Lower ionic strength resulted in a greater response of the chromosome structures to applied loading forces. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:357–362, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.