The study of 3-dimensional structures of IgG with atomic force microscopy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To detect 3-dimensional images of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor Nr1 (NMDAr1) polycolonal IgG affixed on mica in physiological environment. METHODS: The images and data were obtained from a contact mode and commercial Si3N4 probed tip by using atomic force microscope (AFM). RESULTS: The anti-NMDAr1 polycolonal IgG has a characteristic structure described as an ellipse spherical shape of 136.4 A x 62.8 A x 26.1 A. On the section of the ellipse edge there were two peaks about 13 nm in width. CONCLUSIONS: Using AFM to investigate biomacromolecule can make us deeply understand the structure of IgG, which will instruct us to detect the membrane receptor protein as a labelling agent.