Scanning tunnelling microscopy observations of biomolecules on layered materials

Abstract

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been performed on the reverse transcriptases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and the moloney murine leukaemia virus (MuLV). The biological molecules are adsorbed on n-type semiconducting MoTe₂. The p66 (66 kD) subunit of the RT of HIV-1 is imaged by STM. Both STM and processed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data show a spherical and horsehoe-like shape of external diameter ca. 65 Å, depending on the angle of observation. The STM results show a larger diameter which is related to the curvature radius of the tip of the probing needle. The RTs of HIV-1 and MuLV exhibit a circular hole of ca. 20 Å diameter in accordance with structure predictions and functioning considerations. The surface-molecule interaction is discussed in terms of the electronic properties of the semiconductor surface including the influence of small defect sites at the layered crystal surface.