Three-dimensional reconstruction of individual helical nano-filament structures from atomic force microscopy topographs.

摘要: Atomic force microscopy, AFM, is a powerful tool that can produce detailed topographical images of individual nano-structures with high signal-to-noise ratio without the need for ensemble averaging. However, application AFM in structural biology has been hampered by tip-sample convolution effect, which distorts nano-structures, particularly those are similar dimensions to cantilever probe tips used AFM. Here we show results feature-dependent and non-uniform distribution image resolution on topographs. We how this effect be utilised studies nano-sized upward convex objects such as spherical or filamentous molecular assemblies deposited flat surface, because it causes 'magnification' Subsequently, enhancement harnessed through contact-point based deconvolution Here, approach demonstrated 3D reconstruction surface envelope helical amyloid filaments cross-particle averaging using contact-deconvoluted Resolving variations macromolecular within inherently heterogeneous populations paramount mechanistic understanding many biological phenomena toxicity prion strains. The presented here will also facilitate use high-resolution integrative analysis single assemblies.