Cryo-immunogold electron microscopy.

This unit describes subcellular localization of proteins/antigens using high-resolution cryo-immunogold electron microscopy, which allows study of topological biochemistry at the ultrastructural level. This is the most sensitive procedure for immunodetection of antigens on ultrathin sections prepared from chemically fixed cells or tissues, because aldehyde fixation is the only denaturation step. The omission of harsh organic solvents (such as those used for plastic embedding) ensures better preservation of protein antigenicity. Support protocols describe how to embed fixed material in gelatin, cryosection, and mount the sections on Formvar-coated grids. This unit is accompanied by eleven videos that illustrate many of the procedures used in this unit.