Edstrom R D, Yang X R, Lee G, Evans D F
Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
FASEB J. 1990 Oct;4(13):3144-51. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.4.13.2120098.
Two new microscopic techniques make it possible to obtain images of biologically interesting molecules directly in air, vacuum, or under water. Scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy both have the capacity to visualize atoms on the surface of rigid structures and provide details of molecular structure for lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. In addition to providing visualizations of individual molecules, these scanning probe techniques allow direct imaging of complexes between molecules or between molecules and higher-order subcellular structures such as membranes and cytoskeletal components. Both microscopes can be operated under a variety of ambient conditions ranging from high vacuum to above atmospheric pressure. Specimens need not be dry; both techniques have been used to image molecules in aqueous media under nearly physiological conditions. It is proposed that as these techniques mature they will allow direct observation of many molecular interactions under physiological conditions or even in vivo while they are occurring within the cell.
两种新的显微技术使在空气、真空或水下直接获取具有生物学意义的分子图像成为可能。扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜都能够可视化刚性结构表面的原子，并为脂质、蛋白质、碳水化合物和核酸提供分子结构细节。除了提供单个分子的可视化图像外，这些扫描探针技术还能对分子之间或分子与更高阶亚细胞结构（如膜和细胞骨架成分）之间的复合物进行直接成像。这两种显微镜都可以在从高真空到高于大气压的各种环境条件下操作。样本无需干燥；这两种技术都已用于在接近生理条件的水性介质中对分子进行成像。有人提出，随着这些技术的成熟，它们将能够在生理条件下甚至在体内直接观察细胞内正在发生的许多分子相互作用。
