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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Characterizing Individual Protein Aggregates by Infrared Nanospectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: September 12, 2019
Novel polymorphism of RecA fibrils revealed by atomic force microscopy
Bernie D Sattin1, M Cynthia Goh
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.
Abstract:
RecA fibrils in physiological conditions have been successfully imaged using Tapping Mode atomic force microscopy. This represents the first time images of recA have been obtained without drying, freezing and/or exposure to high vacuum conditions. While previously observed structures - the monomer, the hexamer, the short rod - were seen, a new type of fibril was also observed. This protofibril is narrower in diameter than the standard fibril, and occurs in three distinct morphologies: aperiodic, 100-nm periodic, and 150-nm periodic. In addition, much longer rods were observed, and appear curved and even circular.
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