Topography of skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors studied by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the topography of isolated ryanodine receptors of rabbit skeletal muscle (RyR1) both in air and in a buffer. In air, images fourfold symmetric in appearance were obtained. Two different configurations could be distinguished in the AFM topography of single RyR1s, depending on whether there was a center protrusion. In the buffer, even though square images of RyR1s were discerned, the detailed topography of RyR1 appeared different from that in air. Possible reasons for this are discussed.