Direct mapping of the solid-liquid adhesion energy with subnanometre resolution
Nature Nanotechnology 5:6 (2010) 401-405
Abstract:
Solid-liquid interfaces play a fundamental role in surface electrochemistry, catalysis, wetting, self-assembly and biomolecular functions. The interfacial energy determines many of the properties of such interfaces, including the arrangement of the liquid molecules at the surface of the solid. Diffraction techniques are often used to investigate the structure of solid-liquid interfaces, but measurements of irregular or inhomogeneous interfaces remain challenging. Here, we report atomic-and molecular-resolution images of various organic and inorganic samples in liquids, obtained with a commercial atomic force microscope operated dynamically with small-amplitude modulation. This approach uses the structured liquid layers close to the solid to enhance lateral resolution. We propose a model to explain the mechanism dominating the image formation, and show that the energy dissipated during this process is related to the interfacial energy through a readily achievable calibration curve. Our topographic images and interfacial energy maps could provide insights into important interfaces. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.Clustering and Functional Interaction of MscL Channels
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL 98:3 (2010) 323A-323A
Lateral coupling and cooperative dynamics in the function of the native membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin
Soft Matter 5:24 (2009) 4899-4904
Abstract:
Membrane proteins are laterally coupled to the surrounding cell membrane through complex interactions that can modulate their function. Here, we directly observe and quantify the dynamics of functioning bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in its native membrane, a crystalline aggregate of bR trimers. We show that much of a monomer's isomerization energy is mechanically redistributed into the membrane, producing cooperative activity within the trimer while simultaneously generating functionally relevant long-range lateral pressure waves. Our results provide evidence of coordinated short and long-range effects in the cell membrane. © 2009 The Royal Society of Chemistry.Dynamics of bacteriorhodopsin 2D crystal observed by high-speed atomic force microscopy.
J Struct Biol 167:2 (2009) 153-158
Abstract:
We have used high-speed atomic force microscopy to study the dynamics of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) molecules at the free interface of the crystalline phase that occurs naturally in purple membrane. Our results reveal temporal fluctuations at the crystal edges arising from the association and dissociation of bR molecules, most predominantly pre-formed trimers. Analysis of the dissociation kinetics yields an estimate of the inter-trimer single-bond energy of -0.9kcal/mol. Rotational motion of individual bound trimers indicates that the inter-trimer bond involves W10-W12 tryptophan residues.DNA Conformation and Biomolecular Motors: New Nanomedicine Research Targets
Biophysical Journal Elsevier 96:3 (2009) 345a