Scanning tunneling microscopy of recA-DNA complexes coated with a conducting film

A link between scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and conventional transmission electron microscopy has been established for biological material by applying STM on freeze-dried recA-DNA complexes coated with a conducting film. The topography of the complexes observed by means of STM revealed a right-handed single helix composed of about six recA monomers per helical turn.