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Atomic Force Microscopy: An Introduction

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Single Molecule Analysis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1665))

Abstract

Imaging of nano-sized particles and sample features is crucial in a variety of research fields. For instance in biological sciences, where it is paramount to investigate structures at the single particle level. Often two-dimensional images are not sufficient and further information such as topography and mechanical properties are required. Furthermore, to increase the biological relevance, it is desired to perform the imaging in close to physiological environments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) meets these demands in an all-in-one instrument. It provides high-resolution images including surface height information leading to three-dimensional information on sample morphology. AFM can be operated both in air and in buffer solutions. Moreover, it has the capacity to determine protein and membrane material properties via the force spectroscopy mode. Here we discuss the principles of AFM operation and provide examples of how biomolecules can be studied. By including new approaches such as high-speed AFM (HS-AFM) we show how AFM can be used to study a variety of static and dynamic single biomolecules and biomolecular assemblies.

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Acknowledgement

This work is supported by the STW Perspectief grant CANCER-ID and a Nederlandse Organisatie der Wetenschappen Vidi vernieuwingsimpuls grant (both to WHR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moleculaire Biofysica, Zernike Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Melissa C. Piontek & Wouter H. Roos

Authors
  1. Melissa C. Piontek
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  2. Wouter H. Roos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wouter H. Roos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Erwin J. G. Peterman

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Piontek, M.C., Roos, W.H. (2018). Atomic Force Microscopy: An Introduction. In: Peterman, E. (eds) Single Molecule Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1665. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7271-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7271-5_13

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7270-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7271-5

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