Visualization of Nucleic Acids in Microand Nanometer-Scale Biological Objects Using Analytical Electron Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Cell Biology
• Virology

Background:

• Analytical electron microscopy (AEM) is crucial for elemental analysis in various scientific fields.
• Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) are key AEM techniques.
• Identifying biological molecules like nucleic acids requires sensitive elemental detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the successful application of AEM techniques for nucleic acid identification.
• To highlight the use of phosphorus as a unique elemental marker for nucleic acids.
• To showcase AEM's capability in visualizing nucleic acids within cellular and viral structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental mapping.
• Employing electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) for chemical analysis.
• Applying these techniques to biological samples including cells and viruses.

Main Results:

• Successful identification and chemical mapping of nucleic acids were achieved.
• Phosphorus, a key element in nucleic acids, was effectively utilized as a marker.
• Visualization of nucleic acids within cellular and viral contexts was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• AEM techniques, specifically EDX and EELS, are powerful tools for detecting nucleic acids.
• The element phosphorus serves as a reliable marker for identifying nucleic acids in biological samples.
• This approach offers significant potential for advancing biological and materials science research.