Nanogold as a specific marker for electron cryotomography.

ABSTRACT: While electron cryotomography (ECT) provides "molecular" resolution, three-dimensional images of unique biological specimens, sample crowdedness, and/or resolution limitations can make it difficult to identify specific macromolecular components. Here we used a 1.4 nm Nanogold cluster specifically attached to the Fc fragment of IgG to monitor its interaction with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), a membrane-bound receptor that transports IgG across cells in acidic intracellular vesicles. ECT was used to image complexes formed by Nanogold-labeled Fc bound to FcRn attached to the outer surface of synthetic liposomes. In the resulting three-dimensional reconstructions, 1.4 nm Nanogold particles were distributed predominantly along the interfaces where 2:1 FcRn-Fc complexes bridged adjacent lipi

SUBMITTER: He Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2785728 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature