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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Sub-nanometer Resolution Imaging with Amplitude-modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid

Sub-nanometer Resolution Imaging with Amplitude-modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid

Published on: December 20, 2016

Macromolecular crystal growth investigations using atomic force microscopy.

A McPherson¹, Y G Kuznetsov, A J Malkin

¹University of California, Irvine Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 92697-3900, USA.

Journal of Synchrotron Radiation

|December 4, 2003

Summary

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) directly visualizes macromolecular crystal growth, revealing mechanisms and kinetics. This technique evaluates impurities, defects, and surface poisoning in protein, nucleic acid, and virus crystals.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Crystallography
Materials Science

Background:

Macromolecular crystallization is crucial for structural biology.
Understanding crystal growth mechanisms is key to improving crystal quality.
Direct visualization methods are needed to study growth dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the utility of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for direct visualization of macromolecular crystal growth.
To investigate the role of impurities and defects in crystal formation.
To analyze the kinetics and morphological development during crystal growth.

Main Methods:

Utilizing Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for real-time imaging of crystal growth.
Conducting experiments in native mother liquors under normal growth conditions.
Monitoring crystal development over time intervals from minutes to days at the molecular level.

Main Results:

AFM enables direct visualization of macromolecular crystal growth processes.
The technique allows for the identification and evaluation of incorporated impurities.
Defects, imperfections, and impurity layers on crystal surfaces can be imaged and analyzed.

Conclusions:

AFM is a powerful tool for elucidating macromolecular crystal growth mechanisms and kinetics.
AFM facilitates the study of how impurities and defects influence crystal morphology.
Direct molecular-level observation under native conditions provides unprecedented insights into crystal development.