STEM Footprints and Bound Mass Distributions for DNA Control Proteins

We review a current methodology which analyzes quantitative scattering data from Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy to establish footprints—positions of DNA-binding proteins on cloned genes—and mass distributions for the bound protein. Recognition by computer of the DNA path and the extent of the bound protein leads to an analysis rate which is high for image-based data. The methods have been applied in the study of eukaryotic transcription initiation and T antigen interaction with the SV40 control region.