Direct Observation of Streptavidin Specifically Adsorbed on Biotin‐Functionalized Self‐Assembled Monolayers with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Surface recognition of biotin‐functionalized, chemisorbed thiol monolayers by streptavadin results in the formation of protein‐covered surfaces with no longrange order. This is due to the low lateral and vertical mobility of the solidbound thiols. On the other hand, protein surfaces transferred from a water surface reveal a good crystal structure under the scanning electron microscope, but the adhesion of these applied layers to the solid is unsatisfactory. Copyright © 1991 by VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Germany