High-Resolution Imaging of DNA Nanoarchitectures Using AFM

_{KEYWORDS: Atomic Force Microscopy; Fast Scanning AFM; High-Resolution Imaging; DNA origami; Life Sciences}

Decoding the human genome was one of the major scientific aims of the 20^th century, with the idea that understanding the code of life will lead to an understanding of the human organism and specific problems like genetic diseases. In the past decades, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become standard in the high-resolution structural analysis of samples ranging from single molecules to complex macromolecular systems, such as DNA..

In this application note, Bruker's NanoWizard ULTRA Speed AFM was used to study DNA-based structures, such as the general structure of a DNA double-helix, tile-based DNA arrays, and DNA origami.

Readers can expect to learn about:

• DNA nanostructures, including tile-based DNA arrays and folding-based DNA origami, and how they are designed and self-assembled through complementary overhangs and scaffold folding;
• Comprehensive application examples showcasing the high-resolution imaging capabilities of Bruker’s NanoWizard ULTRA Speed AFM,  revealing details of major and minor grooves, helix pitch, and base pairing; and
• The potential of the NanoWizard ULTRA Speed as a powerful tool for real-time imaging and capturing dynamic processes in delicate biological samples.