RESUMO
Single-sided fluorination has been predicted to open an electronic band gap in graphene and to exhibit unique electronic and magnetic properties; however, this has not been substantiated by experimental reports. Our comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of this material on a SiC(0001) substrate shows that single-sided fluorographene exhibits two phases, a stable one with a band gap of â¼6 eV and a metastable one, induced by UV irradiation, with a band gap of â¼2.5 eV. The metastable structure, which reverts to the stable "ground-state" phase upon annealing under emission of blue light, in our view is induced by defect states, based on the observation of a nondispersive electronic state at the top of the valence band, not unlike that found in organic molecular layers. Our structural data show that the stable C2F ground state has a "boat" structure, in agreement with our X-ray magnetic circular dichroism data, which show the absence of an ordered magnetic phase. A high flux of UV or X-ray photons removes the fluorine atoms, demonstrating the possibility of lithographically patterning conducting regions into an otherwise semiconducting 2D material.
RESUMO
Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) regulates immune defenses against viruses, intracellular pathogens, and tumors by modulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and vesicle trafficking processes. The large GTPase guanylate binding protein 1 (GBP-1) is among the cellular proteins that is the most abundantly induced by IFN-γ and mediates its cell biologic effects. As yet, the molecular mechanisms of action of GBP-1 remain unknown. Applying an interaction proteomics approach, we identified actin as a strong and specific binding partner of GBP-1. Furthermore, GBP-1 colocalized with actin at the subcellular level and was both necessary and sufficient for the extensive remodeling of the fibrous actin structure observed in IFN-γ-exposed cells. These effects were dependent on the oligomerization and the GTPase activity of GBP-1. Purified GBP-1 and actin bound to each other, and this interaction was sufficient to impair the formation of actin filaments in vitro, as demonstrated by atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and fluorescence-monitored polymerization. Cosedimentation and band shift analyses demonstrated that GBP-1 binds robustly to globular actin and slightly to filamentous actin. This indicated that GBP-1 may induce actin remodeling via globular actin sequestering and/or filament capping. These results establish GBP-1 as a novel member within the family of actin-remodeling proteins specifically mediating IFN-γ-dependent defense strategies.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/genética , Interferon gama/fisiologia , Fibras de Estresse/metabolismo , Actinas/química , Actinas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/química , Proteínas de Ligação ao GTP/metabolismo , Células HeLa , Células Endoteliais da Veia Umbilical Humana/enzimologia , Humanos , Polimerização , Ligação Proteica , Mapeamento de Interação de Proteínas , Multimerização Proteica , Transporte Proteico , Ativação TranscricionalRESUMO
We employ tip-enhanced infrared near-field microscopy to study the plasmonic properties of epitaxial quasi-free-standing monolayer graphene on silicon carbide. The near-field images reveal propagating graphene plasmons, as well as a strong plasmon reflection at gaps in the graphene layer, which appear at the steps between the SiC terraces. When the step height is around 1.5 nm, which is two orders of magnitude smaller than the plasmon wavelength, the reflection signal reaches 20% of its value at graphene edges, and it approaches 50% for step heights as small as 5 nm. This intriguing observation is corroborated by numerical simulations and explained by the accumulation of a line charge at the graphene termination. The associated electromagnetic fields at the graphene termination decay within a few nanometers, thus preventing efficient plasmon transmission across nanoscale gaps. Our work suggests that plasmon propagation in graphene-based circuits can be tailored using extremely compact nanostructures, such as ultranarrow gaps. It also demonstrates that tip-enhanced near-field microscopy is a powerful contactless tool to examine nanoscale defects in graphene.
Assuntos
Compostos Inorgânicos de Carbono/química , Grafite/química , Nanoestruturas/química , Compostos de Silício/química , Campos Eletromagnéticos , Microscopia de Força Atômica , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície , Propriedades de SuperfícieRESUMO
We study epitaxial graphene on the 6H-SiC(0001) surface under ambient conditions using frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. We observe large terraces with a self-assembled stripe structure within a highly adsorbate covered surface on top of the graphene. To identify the origin of the structure, we compare the experimental data on graphene with calculations and experiments on graphite that predict the formation of a solid-gas monolayer in the solid-liquid interface of hydrophobic surfaces.