Scanning force microscopy of <i>E. coli</i> OmpF porin in buffer solution

Abstract

The extracellular and periplasmic surface topography of the E. coli outer membrane protein OmpF reconstituted into 2D crystals in the presence of phospholipids were investigated with a scanning force microscope in buffer solution. Topographs exhibiting 2 nm lateral resolution are in good agreement with data from electron microscopy and x-ray crystallography, and indicate the exciting possibility to monitor structural changes of ‘‘live systems’’ at molecular resolution by scanning force microscopy.