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Related Experiment Videos

Measuring changes in membrane thickness by scanning tunneling microscopy.

K A Fisher1, S L Whitfield, R E Thomson

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0130.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 30, 1990
PubMed
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Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) effectively measures biomembrane thickness. This technique revealed changes in purple membrane (PM) thickness after enzymatic treatment, demonstrating its utility for morphometric analysis.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Biomembrane thickness is a critical parameter in cellular function.
  • Accurate measurement of membrane thickness is essential for understanding biological processes.
  • Existing techniques may have limitations in resolution or sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) as a morphometric tool for measuring biomembrane thickness.
  • To assess the impact of sample preparation and enzymatic modification on membrane thickness.
  • To determine the resolution limits of STM for membrane morphometry.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of planar monolayers of oriented purple membrane (PM).
  • Nitrogen-drying or freeze-etching of PM samples, followed by metal coating.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Quantification of PM thickness using STM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Evaluation of STM calibration and contamination effects on thickness measurements.

    • Main Results:

    • The mean thickness of nitrogen-dried PM on mica and freeze-etched PM on glass was 4.6 nm.
    • Papain treatment increased PM thickness on mica to 4.8 nm and on glass to 5.4 nm.
    • STM achieved sub-nanometer resolution for measuring average membrane thickness changes.

    Conclusions:

    • STM is a feasible tool for morphometric analysis of biomembranes.
    • STM can detect subtle changes in membrane thickness with high resolution.
    • The study validates STM for quantitative studies of membrane structure and modification.