The bacteriophage φ29 head–tail connector imaged at high resolution with the atomic force microscope in buffer solution
The bacteriophage φ29 head–tail connector imaged at high resolution with the atomic force microscope in buffer solution
复制标题
使用原子力显微镜在缓冲溶液中对噬菌体 φ29 头尾连接器进行高分辨率成像
作者：
D. J. Müller;A. Engel;J. Carrascosa;M. Vélez
通过原子力显微镜（AFM）在缓冲溶液中对二维和三维φ29连接体晶体的表面进行成像。两种形貌都显示出尺寸为16.5 nm×16.5 nm的矩形晶胞。来自二维晶体表面的连接器的高分辨率图像显示每个晶胞有两个连接器，证实了p4212对称性。连接器的高度估计为至少7.6 nm，该值接近于使用不同技术的先前研究中发现的值。宽连接子结构域的12个亚基被清楚地分辨，并显示出右手涡旋。沿着连接器延伸的通道在宽域中具有3.7 nm的直径，而在窄域端部中具有1.7 nm的直径，因此表明了圆锥形通道形状。此外，狭窄的连接器端部看起来相当灵活。当施加到触针的力在50和100 pN之间时，连接器端完全延伸。在150 pN的力下，这些末端被推向晶体表面。AFM数据与电子显微镜获得的三维重建的互补不仅证实了所提出的模型，而且还提供了新的见解，可能有助于解释连接器在DNA包装中的作用。
The surfaces of two‐ and three‐dimensional φ29 connector crystals were imaged in buffer solution by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both topographies show a rectangular unit cell with dimensions of 16.5 nm×16.5 nm. High resolution images of connectors from the two‐dimensional crystal surface show two connectors per unit cell confirming the p4212 symmetry. The height of the connector was estimated to be at least 7.6 nm, a value close to that found in previous studies using different techniques. The 12 subunits of the wide connector domain were clearly resolved and showed a right‐handed vorticity. The channel running along the connector had a diameter of 3.7 nm in the wide domain, while it was 1.7 nm in the narrow domain end, thus suggesting a tronco‐conical channel shape. Moreover, the narrow connector end appears to be rather flexible. When the force applied to the stylus was between 50 and 100 pN, the connector end was fully extended. At forces of ∼150 pN, these ends were pushed towards the crystal surface. The complementation of the AFM data with the three‐dimensional reconstruction obtained from electron microscopy not only confirmed the model proposed, but also offers new insights that may help to explain the role of the connector in DNA packing.
影响因子：
2.2
作者：
PENCZEK, P;RADERMACHER, M;FRANK, J
通讯作者：
FRANK, J
噬菌体 phi 29 连接器的构象变化会阻止 DNA 结合活性。
影响因子：
5.6
作者：
Herranz,L;Bordas,J;Towns-Andrews,E;Mendez,E;Usobiaga,P;Carrascosa,JL
通讯作者：
Carrascosa,JL
噬菌体 phi 29 头尾连接器在六边形堆积阵列和单个颗粒中均显示出 13 重对称性。
影响因子：
3.4
作者：
Tsuprun,V;Anderson,D;Egelman,EH
通讯作者：
Egelman,EH