科研之友
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摘要
Hydration interaction shapes biomolecules and is a dominant inter-molecular force. Mapping the hydration patterns of biomolecules is therefore essential for understanding molecular processes in biology. Numerous studies have been devoted to this challenge but current methods cannot map the hydration of single biomolecules, let alone under physiological conditions. Here, we show that FM-AFM can fill this gap and generate 3D hydration maps of single DNA molecules under near-physiological conditions. Additionally, we present real space images of DNA in which the double helix is resolved with unprecedented resolution, clearly revealing individual phosphate groups along the DNA backbone. FM-AFM therefore emerges as a powerful enabling tool in the study of individual biomolecules and their hydration under physiological conditions.
