Which techinque would be used to look at distribution of protiens on the surface of a bacterial cell wall: Light Microscopy (LM) or Electron Microscopy (EM)
To examine the distribution of proteins on the surface of a bacterial cell wall, Electron Microscopy (EM) would be the technique of choice.
Explanation:
1. Light Microscopy (LM): Light microscopy is a technique that uses visible light to pass through a sample and magnify the image. However, the resolution limits of light microscopy prevent the visualization of proteins at the nanoscale level, such as those found on bacterial cell walls. LM is more suitable for examining larger structures or stained specimens.
2. Electron Microscopy (EM): Electron microscopy, specifically Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) or Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), allows for much higher resolution and magnification than light microscopy. This technique uses a beam of electrons instead of light to visualize the sample. SEM can provide detailed information about the surface morphology and topography of the bacterial cell wall, while TEM allows for the examination of internal structures and finer details.
In summary, to examine the distribution of proteins on the surface of a bacterial cell wall, Electron Microscopy (EM) would be the preferred technique due to its higher resolution and ability to visualize nanostructures.