Mapping elasticity of rehydrated metaphase chromosomes by scanning force microscopy

Scanning force microscopy was used for mapping the viscoelastic properties of metaphase chromosomes. These properties were probed by scanning with various imaging forces and subsequent calculation of the difference image. The procedure allows a mapping of the viscoelastic behavior expressed as force-dependent indentation of the local surface feature and results in an image with material contrast. The approach is demonstrated on rehydrated metaphase chromosomes, which were spread and air-dried before rehydration in aqueous buffer. The rehydration resulted in a swelling of the chromosome structure and was accompanied by drastic changes in the viscoelastic properties. For comparisons, force-distance curves on metaphase chromosomes were accumulated; these curves were also used for the calculation of the stiffness curve. The demonstrated approach of mapping viscoelasticity by differential scanning force microscopy allows the detection of domains with varying mechanical properties in biomolecules such as chromosomes.