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Imaging of cell membraneous and cytoskeletal structures with a scanning tunneling microscope
Author(s) -
Ruppersberg Johann Peter,
Hörber J.K.Heinrich,
Gerber Christoph,
Binnig Gert
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(89)81596-0
Subject(s) - xenopus , cytoskeleton , toad , scanning tunneling microscope , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , nanotechnology , cell , chemistry , materials science , biochemistry , ecology , gene
The first observation of unstained cell membraneous structures by a scanning tunneling microscope is reported. An adhesive preparation method was used for imaging human medulloblastoma cells from the cell line TE 671 and oocytes from the clawed toad Xenopus laevis . The images show filaments, stacks of molecules and hilly structures. The possible identity of the filamentous structures is discussed, although the observed structures cannot yet be fully characterized. The work suggests possible future experiments on various biological structures in their natural environment.