Biological Photocathodes
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Date
1989-03
Authors
Griffith, O. H.
Habliston, D. L.
Birrell, G. B.
Skoczylas, W. P.
Hedberg, K. K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Abstract
Biological surfaces emit electrons when subjected
to UV light. This emission is increased greatly after
exposure to cesium vapor. Increases from 2 to 3 orders of
magnitude are observed, depending on the biochemicals present.
Heme and chlorophyll exhibit unusually high photoemission
currents, which are increased further after cesiation.
Photoemission from proteins and lipids is much less but also is
increased by exposure to cesium. The formation of photocathodes
with cesium greatly increases the practical magnifications
attainable in photoelectron microscopy of organic and biological
specimens. Photoelectron micrographs taken at magnifications
;;;: x 100,000 of chlorophyll-rich thylakoid membranes
and of colloidal gold-labeled cytoskeleton preparations of cultured
epithelial cells demonstrate the improvement in magnification.
The selectivity and stability of the photocathodes suggest
the possibility of detecting chromophore binding proteins in
membranes and the design of photoelectron labels for tagging
specific sites on biological surfaces.
Description
5 pages
Keywords
Citation
141. Griffith, O. H., Habliston, D. L., Birrell, G. B. , Skoczylas, W. P. and Hedberg, K. K. (1989) Biological Photocathodes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. 86, 1826-1830.