Visualization of unstained DNA nanostructures with advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques

Yoones Kabiri; Raimond B.G. Ravelli; Tibor Lehnert; Haoyuan Qi; Allard J. Katan; Natascha Roest; Ute Kaiser; Cees Dekker; Peter J. Peters; Henny Zandbergen

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43687-5

Visualization of unstained DNA nanostructures with advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques

Yoones Kabiri, Raimond B.G. Ravelli, Tibor Lehnert, Haoyuan Qi, Allard J. Katan, Natascha Roest, Ute Kaiser, Cees Dekker, Peter J. Peters, Henny Zandbergen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

BN/Cees Dekker Lab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Over the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in visualizing biologically important macromolecules using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and understanding their structure-function relation. Yet, despite the importance of DNA in all forms of life, TEM visualization of individual DNA molecules in its native unlabeled form has remained extremely challenging. Here, we present high-contrast images of unstained single-layer DNA nanostructures that were obtained using advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques. These include sub-Ångstrom low voltage electron microscopy (SALVE), the use of a volta-potential phase plate (VPP), and dark-field (DF) microscopy. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these techniques for broad applications in structural biology and materials science.

Original language	English
Article number	7218
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	9
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43687-5
Publication status	Published - 2019

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title = "Visualization of unstained DNA nanostructures with advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques",

abstract = "Over the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in visualizing biologically important macromolecules using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and understanding their structure-function relation. Yet, despite the importance of DNA in all forms of life, TEM visualization of individual DNA molecules in its native unlabeled form has remained extremely challenging. Here, we present high-contrast images of unstained single-layer DNA nanostructures that were obtained using advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques. These include sub-{\AA}ngstrom low voltage electron microscopy (SALVE), the use of a volta-potential phase plate (VPP), and dark-field (DF) microscopy. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these techniques for broad applications in structural biology and materials science.",

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AU - Kabiri, Yoones

AU - Ravelli, Raimond B.G.

AU - Lehnert, Tibor

AU - Qi, Haoyuan

AU - Katan, Allard J.

AU - Roest, Natascha

AU - Kaiser, Ute

AU - Dekker, Cees

AU - Peters, Peter J.

AU - Zandbergen, Henny

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

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AB - Over the last few years, tremendous progress has been made in visualizing biologically important macromolecules using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and understanding their structure-function relation. Yet, despite the importance of DNA in all forms of life, TEM visualization of individual DNA molecules in its native unlabeled form has remained extremely challenging. Here, we present high-contrast images of unstained single-layer DNA nanostructures that were obtained using advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques. These include sub-Ångstrom low voltage electron microscopy (SALVE), the use of a volta-potential phase plate (VPP), and dark-field (DF) microscopy. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these techniques for broad applications in structural biology and materials science.

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Visualization of unstained DNA nanostructures with advanced in-focus phase contrast TEM techniques

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