Lectin cytochemistry in scanning electron microscopy.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
M Horisberger
Publications and source records attributed to M Horisberger.
Ultrastructural localization of glycinin and beta-conglycinin in Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow by the immunogold method.
beta-Conglycinin (7 S globulin) and glycinin (11 S globulin) are the major reserve proteins of soybean. They were localized by the protein A immunogold method in thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow. In cotyledons, both globulins were simultaneously present in all protein bodies. Statistical analysis of marking intensities indicated no correlation between globulin concentration and size of protein bodies. The immunogold method failed to detect either globulin in the embryonic axis and in cotyledons of four-day-old seedlings. Similar observations were made with cotyledons of two soy varieties lacking either the lectin or the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. In another variety (T-102) lacking the lectin, the 7 S globulin could not be detected.
Antigens, Plant↗
Labelling of colloidal gold with protein A. A quantitative study.
Colloidal gold complexes with protein A are extensively used in immunocytochemistry as secondary reagents for the localization of antigens. However detailed information on the process and extent of adsorption of protein A onto gold particles, the optimal condition of preparation and the stability of such complexes are lacking. The adsorption isotherm of 125I-protein A onto gold particles (11.2 nm in diameter) was studied quantitatively with gold sols buffered at pH 4-7. At low coverage of the particles, the isotherm was independent of pH. However in the presence of a large excess of protein A, the highest coverage was obtained with a gold sol buffered at pH 5.1, the isoelectric point of the protein. The association constant was decreased at high coverage of the particles. Maximum binding of the complex to immobilized IgG occurred with particles labelled with at least 9 molecules of protein A. The complex was stable under storage with up to 12 molecules adsorbed per particle. At high coverage (26 molecules per particle), a progressive loss of protein A was observed. The optimum condition for preparing the complex are reported.
Adsorption↗
Immunogold technique applied to simultaneous identification of T6 and HLA-DR antigens on Langerhans cells by electron microscopy.
A double-labeling immunogold technique in electron microscopy and specific monoclonal antibodies to surface antigens of Langerhans cells (OKT6 and BL2) were applied to assess directly the coexpression of two cell surface antigens (T6 and HLA-DR antigens) in a heterogeneous epidermal cell suspension. Electron microscopic examination of double-labeled cells revealed that all Birbeck granule-containing Langerhans cells bound OKT6 and BL2. The preparation of markers with colloidal gold particles and the procedure for double labeling are described. Several problems related to the steric hindrance and current artifacts are illustrated by micrographs and also discussed.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
Localization of kappa-casein on thin sections of casein micelles by the gold method.
The ultrastructural location of kappa-casein in bovine casein micelles was investigated by the protein A-gold method. Casein micelles, fixed in glutaraldehyde, were embedded at low temperature to enhance immunocytochemical marking of thin sections. kappa-Casein was found distributed throughout the micelles of all sizes with a higher concentration in the smaller micelles. No peripheral location of kappa-casein was observed, even in the larger micelles. These results do not agree with "coat-core" structures proposed for casein micelles. However they favor models where kappa-casein is distributed uniformly throughout the micelles.
Animals↗
Labelling of colloidal gold with protein. A quantitative study using beta-lactoglobulin.
Markers prepared by labelling colloidal gold with macromolecules such as lectins, antibodies and protein A are gaining wide acceptance both in transmission and scanning electron microscopy. However detailed information on the process and extent of adsorption of macromolecules onto gold particles are still lacking. The adsorption isotherm of protein onto gold particles was studied quantitatively using goat beta-lactoglobulin (beta L) tritiated in vivo. When this protein was modified chemically by iodination with 125I, the adsorption isotherm was not significantly different (Langmuir type for monolayer). In the presence of saturating amount of beta L, a maximum of 13-14 molecules was adsorbed per particle of 12 nm in diameter for a theoretical maximum of 20 (compact monolayer). Ellipsometric measurements on nickel-coated slides indicated that betas L was adsorbed onto metallic surfaces as a compact monolayer. The molecules were irreversibly adsorbed on gold particles, kept to a large extent their capacity to bind anti-beta L antibodies and could not be displaced by polyethylene glycol, a stabilizer commonly used in the preparation of gold markers. Only markers labelled with more than 5 beta L molecules per particle could be completely bound by immobilized anti-beta L antibodies. Preliminary data indicated that the energetics of adsorption of beta L onto colloidal gold was in agreement with that expected from the mutual interaction of surface and adsorbate.
Adsorption↗
Localization of glycosylated kappa-casein on thin sections of casein micelles by lectin-labelled gold markers.
The location of the glycosylated part of kappa-casein in bovine casein micelles was investigated using gold particles (6 nm in diameter) labelled with Ricinus communis lectin and Limulus polyphemus lectin. The pattern of marking of thin sections of micelles was similar with both lectins. Glycosylated kappa-casein was distributed uniformly throughout most micelles of all sizes. Peripheral location of glycosylated kappa-casein was observed only occasionally in some of the largest micelles. Quantitative data indicated that the concentration of the glycosylated protein was constant in micelles of increasing sizes. As larger micelles contain less total kappa-casein than smaller ones, these data indicated that a greater proportion of their kappa-casein is glycosylated. These results support models for casein micelle structure where kappa-casein is distributed throughout the micelles. They do not agree with "coat-core" structures.
Animals↗
Ultrastructural localization of Bowman-Birk inhibitor on thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow by the gold method.
The soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), a polypeptide of MW 8,000, has a specificity directed against trypsin and chymotrypsin. BBI was localized at the ultrastructural level by the protein A gold method on thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow. In cotyledon and embryonic axis, BBI was found in all protein bodies, the nucleus and, to a lesser extent, the cytoplasm. Contrary to the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (Horisberger and Tacchini-Vonlanthen 1983), BBI was not present in the cell wall but was found in the intercellular space. Intensity of marking in cotyledons of four-day-old seedlings was similar with the exception of the intercellular space which was free of BBI. In two lines lacking the Kunitz inhibitor (P.I. 157440 and 196168), data indicated that marking intensity was similar to that of cv. Maple Arrow. In contrast, in varieties lacking the lectin (Norredo, T-102) marking was more intense than in cv. Maple Arrow.
Cell Nucleus↗
Ultrastructural localization of Kunitz inhibitor on thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow by the gold method.
The soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI, Kunitz type) was localized by immunofluorescence and, at the ultrastructural level, by the protein A gold method on thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) cv. Maple Arrow. SBTI was localized in cell walls, protein bodies, the cytoplasm between the lipid-containing spherosomes, and the nucleus of the cotyledon and embryonic axis. In the nucleus, SBTI was present in the chromatin deposit and the nucleolus. The intensity of marking by the gold method decreased in the cell wall from the center of the cotyledon to the periphery. In four-days-old seedlings marking intensity of cell wall was much reduced. No SBTI could be detected in the hypocotyl. In two lines lacking soybean agglutinin (Norredo, T-102) the location of SBTI was similar to that observed in Maple Arrow. In P.I. 196168, a line lacking SBTI, marking intensity of the organelles was reduced to a very low level. Although this study was not designed to discern the cellular function of SBTI, if any, it may establish criteria consistent with its role in soybean.
Cell Nucleolus↗
Swainsonine prevents the processing of the oligosaccharide chains of influenza virus hemagglutinin.
Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, inhibits the alpha-mannosidase that is involved in glycoprotein processing. Thus, in cultured animal cells, this alkaloid causes an increase in the surface content of high mannose glycoproteins and a decrease in the amount of complex type glycoproteins (Elbein, A. D., Solf, R., Dorling, P. R., and Vosbeck, K. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 78, 7393-7397). In this report, the effect of swainsonine on the synthesis virus hemagglutinins was examined. Primary calf kidney cultures were infected with influenza virus and viral replication was allowed to proceed in the absence or presence of swainsonine. Several hours after the addition of swainsonine, [2-3H]mannose or [6-3H]glucosamine were added to label the hemagglutinins and the mature virus particles were isolated. Virus particles raised in the presence of this alkaloid had the same infectivity and hemagglutination titer as virus particles from control cells. However, when the hemagglutinins were examined on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, the major hemagglutinin (HA0) and its subunits, HA1 and HA2, from swainsonine-treated cells, migrated faster, indicating that they were of lower molecular weights. The labeled hemagglutinins were digested with pronase and the resulting glycopeptides were chromatographed on Bio-Gel P-4. Both the mannose-labeled and glucosamine-labeled glycopeptides from swainsonine-treated virus migrated more slowly on these columns than those of controls cells, suggesting that they were altered in structure. Furthermore, when the glycopeptides were digested with endoglucosaminidase H, 90% of the glycopeptides from swainsonine-treated cells were susceptible to this enzyme, whereas only 30% of those from control cells were digested. The major oligosaccharide released from inhibited cells by endoglucosaminidase H was digestible with alpha-mannosidase, whereas that of control cells was resistant to this enzyme. However, the control cell glycopeptide was digested by a combination of neuraminidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, and alpha-mannosidase. These data show that swainsonine prevents the formation of complex glycoproteins and gives rise to increased amounts of high-mannose glycoproteins.
Alkaloids↗
Binding of colloidal gold granules, coated with bovine factor VIII, to human platelet membranes.
Platelet aggregating factor (PAF) activity is preferentially associated with the larger molecular forms of bovine factor VIII and diminishes considerably after dissociation into smaller oligomers by mild disulphide reduction. PAF activity was regained by the binding of small factor VIII oligomers to colloidal gold granules with a mean diameter of 23 nm. In contrast, adsorption of large factor VIII polymers onto gold particles resulted in partial loss of PAF activity. Thus, an optimum multimeric size of bovine factor VIII appears to be required for the maximal expression of PAF activity. Gold granules, coated with reduced factor VIII, can be used as an electron-dense label. Their interaction with surface receptors for bovine factor VIII on either viable or formalin-fixed human platelets was demonstrated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy.
Animals↗
Colloidal gold : a cytochemical marker for light and fluorescent microscopy and for transmission and scanning electron microscopy.
Gold sols are orange to violet, display electron dense properties and are capable of strong emission of secondary electrons. These properties enable gold particles to be used as specific markers in microscopy both at the low and high resolution level (light and fluorescent microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy). Monodisperse colloidal gold can be produced by several methods in a size range of 5 nm to 150 nm. As a consequence, the gold method is well suited for multiple marking experiment at the high resolution level. Since gold markers bind non-specifically to a very low extent, the technique has found application in TEM for marking intracellular components on thin sections. Both the one step and the two step marking procedures have been utilized in the various modes of microscopy. Under appropriate conditions, gold particles can be labelled with a variety of macromolecules (polysaccharides, glycoproteins, proteins, lectins, antibodies), presumably through a noncovalent binding process. Generally the probes acquire the specific activity of the adsorbed macromolecule and their stability upon storage is good. A number of factors which influence the adsorption process are discussed in relation to the more general problems of adsorption of macromolecules onto metallic surfaces. The stability of gold markers is also best understood by the DLVO theory for disperse systems. The preparation, labelling, stabilization, stability and binding characteristics of gold markers are reviewed. Since the binding of gold probes to cell surfaces is primarily determined by the size of the particle, several problems related to steric hindrance and quantification of the method are also discussed. The advantages of the method over others are compared. The different modes of microscopy and the several gold methods available for marking cell surface and intracellular components are illustrated by micrographs.
Adsorption↗
Visualisation of lectin binding sites on the surface of human platelets using lectins adsorbed to gold granules.
Washed human platelets have been incubated with the lectins WGA, ConA and RCA1, adsorbed to different-sized gold particles. Plasma membrane receptors for each lectin were then located by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
Adsorption↗
An application of ellipsometry. Assessment of polysaccharide and glycoprotein interaction with lectin at a liquid/solid interface.
Lectins were specifically adsorbed from solution onto metallized glass slides coated with polysaccharide, glycopeptide and glycoprotein films. The degree of interaction was determined by measuring the thickness of the bound lectin layer with an ellipsometer after washing and drying the slide. The binding of concanavalin A (tetrameric) and succinyl concanavalin A (dimeric) to a yeast mannan film was studied as a function of lectin concentration, temperature, rinsing time and the extent of stirring of the slide. The maximum thickness of bound concanavalin A and succinyl concanavalin A was 11 amd 3.8 nm, respectively. The method permitted the measurement of the association constants for both lectins (1.0 x 10(7) M-1 for concanavalin A, 2 x 10(6) M-1 for succinyl concanavalin A) and the detection of 0.6 pmol concanavalin A. The same sensitivity was observed with anti-mannan antibodies. The binding of both lectins was shown to be specific using sugar haptens. When compared with methyl alpha-D-mannoside, the affinity of concanavalin A for D-mannose and D-glucose was 14 and 3%, respectively. A film of mucin glycopeptide (universal adsorbent) interacted similarly with concanavalin A, Ricinus communis I, soya bean and wheat germ lectins. However, films of glycoproteins such as fetuin, ceruloplasmin and Aspergillus niger beta-D-galactosidase interacted to different degrees with those lectins. The relative affinity of wheat germ agglutinin for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and for chitin-derived oligosaccharides was also determined. When films of sialoglycoproteins were treated wih neuraminidase, the thickness of the bound peanut agglutinin layer increased. Although this method cannot determine quantitatively the sugar composition of the film, it permits rapid estimation of the interaction of lectins with polysaccharides and glycoproteins, using little material.
Absorption↗
Chemical composition and ultrastructure of cellular and extracellular Moraxella glucidolytica lipopolysaccharides.
A cellular (LPS I) and extracellular (LPS II) lipopolysaccharide were isolated from Moraxella glucidolytica cells grown on ethanol and from the culture fluid, respectively. Both LPS were toxic when injected to mice and chick embryos. These LPS contained glucose, galactose, glucosamine, galactosamine, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate and lipids. By permethylation studies, glucose was found to be linked (1 lead to 6) and (1 lead to 3) in LPS I and only (1 lead to 6) in LPS II. Galactose was the terminal non-reducing sugar. Branching occurred at positions 3 and 4 of galactose residues. LPS I was rich in alpha- and beta-hydroxylauric and alpha-hydroxymyristic acids and LPS I was detoxified by mild acid and alkaline treatments. It was also dissociated by sodium deoxycholate and chromatographed on Sephadex G-75. The main fraction was reassociated by removing the surfactant by dialysis. The morphology of LPS I and LPS II was examined by electron microscopy. LPS I (original and reassociated fractions) consisted exclusively of ribbons while LPS II contained ribbons and vesicles.
Bacterial Toxins↗
Ultrastructural localization of soybean agglutinin on thin sections of Glycine max (soybean) var. Altona by the gold method.
Soybean agglutinin (SBA) has been localized in Glycine max (soybean) var. Altona at the ultrastructural level by the gold method. SBA was detected by marking thin sections of different part of the seed with gold granules (12 nm in size) labelled with anti-SBA antiserum. Upon examination by transmission electron microscopy, the lectin was found uniformly distributed in most of the protein bodies of the cotyledon. SBA was also present in the embryo axis.
Gold↗
Adhesion of human and chicken red blood cells to polystyrene: influence of electrolyte and polyethylene glycol concentration.
Adhesion of glutaraldehyde-fixed human red blood cells (RBC) to polystyrene was measured as a function of concentration of mono-, di-, and trivalent cations. The effectiveness for preventing adhesion was trivalent > divalent > monovalent. Adhesion increased with ionic strength but no specificity of cations in a particular valency group was observed. Adhesion as a function of NaCl concentration was not affected by temperature between 1 degrees C and 22 degrees C but decreased in 150 mM NaCl above pH 6. Chicken RBC and neuraminidase-treated human RBC were more adhesive than untreated human RBC in NaCl. In 150 mM NaCl, adhesion of human RBC decreased in the presence of hemolyzate or polyethylene glycols (mol. wt. 10,000-300,000). These results support the hypothesis that RBC adhesion to polystyrene occurs in the primary minimum of the potential energy of interaction and is governed by attractive London-Van der Waals and repulsive electrostatic forces. The implications were applied to study of hemagglutination of RBC with lectin and lectin-labeled gold granules in polystyrene microplates.
Animals↗
Adhesion of human red blood cells to polystyrene. Influence of sodium chloride concentration and of neuraminidase treatment.
The adhesion on polystyrene of glutaraldehyde-fixed human red blood cells was found to increase with NaCl concentration. Half of the maximum of irreversible adhesion was obtained in 2.2 mM NaCl for neuraminidase-treated cells and in 5.5 mM NaCl for the untreated cells.
Cell Adhesion↗