scholarly journals Ultrastructural localization of intracellular antigens by the use of protein A-gold complex.

1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1074-1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Roth ◽  
M Bendayan ◽  
L Orci

An immunocytochemical technique for the demonstration of intracellular antigens (secretory proteins) on thin sections is reported. Staphylococcal protein A which reacts with the Fc fragment of IgG molecules was labeled with colloidal gold as a marker. The antigenic sites were visualized on aldehyde-fixed and Epon-embedded tissue in a two step procedure. The specific antisera were applied to thin sections for binding to the antigens and then visualized by the protein A-gold complex. By using this technique different secretory proteins of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas were localized. The protein A-gold technique is proposed as a general method for visualization of antigenic sites on thin sections.

1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bendayan ◽  
M Zollinger

The protein A-gold immunocytochemical technique has been modified to allow labeling of cellular antigenic sites on osmium-fixed or postfixed tissues. Several strong oxidizing agents have been found able to restore protein antigenicity on osmicated tissue thin sections. According to the fine structural preservation and intensities of labeling, pretreatment with sodium metaperiodate gave optimal results. Pancreatic secretory proteins (and/or proproteins) as well as insulin (and/or proinsulin) were localized over perfectly preserved rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), Golgi apparatus, and secretory granules of the corresponding pancreatic cells; carbamyl phosphate synthetase and catalase were revealed over liver mitochondria and peroxisomes, respectively. In addition to the higher resolution in the labeling obtained using osmium-fixed tissues, the present modification confers an additional advantage to the protein A-gold technique by allowing labeling on tissues processed for routine electron microscopy.


1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 691-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Roth

The protein A-gold (pAg) complex, a useful reagent for electron microscopic localization of antigens in thin sections, is tested for its suitability as second step reagent in light microscopic immunohistochemistry. In addition, the preparation of colloidal silver, its complex formation with staphylococcal protein A and the application of the protein A-silver complex for antigen localization in paraffin sections is reported. The antigens were visualized in a two-step technique with specific antisera in the first incubation step and pAg or pA-silver as a general second step reagent. The pAg complex gives a red coloration of antigenic sites, whereas the pA-silver stained yellow. The contrasting color provided by the two immunocolloids allowed localization of two antigens in the same section. No color mixing occurred, showing that removal of the antibodies of the first staining sequence is unnecessary. Staining is virtually permanent with the light microscopic immunocolloid method. It is concluded that pAg and pA-silver complexes are useful as general second step reagents for the localization of a variety of antigens in paraffin sections.


Author(s):  
George H. Herbener ◽  
Antonio Nanci ◽  
Moise Bendayan

Protein A-gold immunocytochemistry is a two-step, post-embedding labeling procedure which may be applied to tissue sections to localize intra- and extracellular proteins. The key requisite for immunocytochemistry is the availability of the appropriate antibody to react in an immune response with the antigenic sites on the protein of interest. During the second step, protein A-gold complex is reacted with the antibody. This is a non- specific reaction in that protein A will combine with most IgG antibodies. The ‘label’ visualized in the electron microscope is colloidal gold. Since labeling is restricted to the surface of the tissue section and since colloidal gold is particulate, labeling density, i.e., the number of gold particles per unit area of tissue section, may be quantitated with ease and accuracy.


1984 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 358-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Fakan ◽  
G Leser ◽  
T E Martin

The ultrastructural distribution of nuclear ribonucleoproteins (RNP) has been investigated by incubation of thin sections of mouse or rat liver, embedded in Lowicryl K4M or prepared by cryoultramicrotomy, with antibodies specific for RNP. The antibodies were localized by means of a protein A-colloidal gold complex. Anti-small nuclear (sn)RNP antibodies, specific for determinants of the nucleoplasmic snRNP species containing U1, U2, U4, U5, and U6 RNAs, were found associated preferentially with perichromatin fibrils, interchromatin granules, and coiled bodies. This indicates an early association of snRNP with structural constituents containing newly synthesized heterogeneous nuclear RNA. It also suggests a possible structural role of some snRNPs in nuclear architecture. Antibodies against the core proteins of heterogeneous nuclear RNP particles associate preferentially with the border regions of condensed chromatin, and in particular with perichromatin fibrils and some perichromatin granules. These results are discussed in view of recent knowledge about the possible role of nucleoplasmic RNP-containing components in the functions of the cell nucleus.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2517-2524 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Jeng ◽  
A. M. Svircev

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to identify and isolate a soluble polypeptide, the QP1 protein, which is characteristic of the vegetative hyphae of nonaggressive isolate Q412 of Ophiostoma ulmi. Individual QP1 spots were excised from 16 two-dimensional gels. Polypeptides were eluted from the gel spots by electroelution and lyophilized. The protein was injected into rabbits for the production of polyclonal antibodies. Antiserum specificity was tested by transferring polypeptides from a two-dimensional gel onto nitrocellulose and treating with QP1 serum. The resulting immunoblot contained a single spot that corresponded in shape and location to that of the QP1 polypeptide. Thin sections of fungal mycelia, from nonaggressive isolate Q412 and the aggressive isolate VA of O. ulmi, were treated with QP1 antibodies and protein A – gold. The gold label was localized in thin sections over conidial and hyphal cell walls of the nonaggressive isolate. The aggressive isolate was nonreactive. Mycelia from nonaggressive isolates Q412 and Q311 and aggressive isolates VA and CESS16K of O. ulmi were grown on solid medium, treated with QP1 antibodies, labelled with protein A – gold, and prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The gold-labelled QP1 polypeptide was detected on the leading edge of a small number of hyphae from nonaggressive isolates Q412 and Q311. Key words: immunogold labelling, Ophiostoma ulmi, soluble proteins.


1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bendayan

In the present study we report the modifications and the different steps of the protein A-gold (pAg) technique that allow the simultaneous demonstration of two antigenic sites on the same tissue section. The labeling is carried out in the following manner: face A of the tissue section is incubated with an antiserum followed by a pAg complex prepared with large gold particles; face B of the same tissue section is then incubated with a second antiserum followed by a pAg complex prepared with small gold particles. Each of the pAg complexes reveals a different antigenic site on opposite faces of the tissue section. The transparency of the section in the electron beam allows the visualization of the gold particles present on both faces. The double labeling pAg technique was applied for the simultaneous demonstration of two secretory proteins in the same Golgi, condensing vacuoles, and zymogen granules of the rat pancreatic acinar cells.


1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R. Hand ◽  
R. Coleman ◽  
M.R. Mazariegos ◽  
J. Lustmann ◽  
L.V. Lotti

The ability of the intralobular duct cells of the rat parotid gland to take up protein from the lumen was examined by retrograde infusion of exogenous proteins and by immunogold localization of endogenous secretory proteins. Small amounts of native horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were taken up by intercalated and striated duct cells, and were present in small vesicles, multi vesicular bodies, and lysosomes. In contrast, HRP modified by periodate oxidation was avidly internalized by the duct cells and was present in large apical vacuoles that acquired lysosomal hydrolase activity. Native and cationized ferritin were taken up in a similar manner when infused at a high concentration (up to 10 mg/mL). At lower concentrations (0.3-1.0 mg/mL), endocytosis of cationized ferritin occurred mainly in small apical tubules and vesicles in striated duct cells. Little native ferritin was taken up at these concentrations. After stimulation of acinar cell secretion by isoproterenol, similar vacuoles were occasionally observed in both intercalated and striated duct cells. Labeling of thin sections with antibodies to amylase and to a 26,000-dalton secretory protein (protein B1), followed by protein A-gold, revealed the presence of these proteins in the vacuoles, indicating endocytosis of acinar secretory proteins by the duct cells. Although uptake of acinar proteins by duct cells occurs at a low rate in normal animals, previous work suggests that extensive endocytosis may occur in certain pathological conditions. This may be a mechanism for removing abnormal or modified proteins from saliva before it reaches the oral cavity.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 680-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moïse Bendayan

Actin, myosin, and keratin immunoreactive sites have been localized with high resolution in pancreatic exocrine cells, by applying the protein A – gold technique on tissues processed at low temperature conditions. The labeling by gold particles was found at the level of the cell web and closely associated with the limiting membranes of the immature and mature secretory granules, as well as those of the "trans" cisternae of the Golgi apparatus. These results, together with those obtained in the study on the localization of secretory proteins in exocrine pancreatic cells, demonstrate that cytoskeletal proteins are present at sites where maturation and (or) concentration of the secretory proteins occur. Thus, besides the role that cytoskeletal proteins must play in the transport of the secretory granules from the Golgi to the plasma membrane, they may also be involved in the process of protein maturation and (or) concentration.


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