Tunneling Properties of Large Molecules

本研究旨在阐明通常被认为是不导电的生物/有机分子和结构的隧穿特性我们成功地成像了具有官能团的有机碳氢化合物，如胺、羧基、苯胺、醇、羰基、芳基、苯基、胆固醇基。这一成功为通过金属表面混合单层中的官能团来识别单个分子开辟了一条道路。应用分子轨道计算电子分子内态的理论结果，使这类分子的实验鉴定合理化扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜用于蛋白质和核酸成像。研究了金属表面上吸附蛋白质的规则阵列，目的是培养创建功能单层表面的有用方法。在隧道显微镜下，利用计算得到的电子分布，鉴定了组成基因组DNA的4个碱基发展了利用原子力显微镜对生物分子和功能结构进行操纵和工程的方法。成功地完成了单个蛋白质分子的拉伸实验和染色体中人类基因组DNA的操作。

This study aimed at the elucidation of tunneling properties of bio/organic molecules and structures which are generally known to be electrically non-conductive.1 We were successful in imaging organic hydrocarbons with functional groups such as amine, carboxyl, anilide, alcohol, carbonyl, aryl, phenyl, cholestryl groups. The success opened a way to identify individual molecules by their functional groups in their mixed mono-layrs over the metal surface. Theoretical results of molecular orbital calculation of the intramolecular states of the electrons were applied to rationalize experimental identifications of such molecules.2 Scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes were used in imaging proteins and nucleic acids. Regular arrays of adsorbed proteins on a metal surface were studied with an aim to cultivate useful methods for the creation of functional monolayr surfaces. The four bases that make up the genomic DNA were identified uder tunneling microscope with the help of calculated electron distribution.3 Methods of manipulation and engineering biomolecules and functional structures using atomic force microscope were developed. Stretching experiment of individual protein molecules and manipulation of the human genomic DNA in the chromosomes were successfully done.