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*CIL – Cell Image Library accession number. Please use this to reference an image.

CIL:13148*  Cite 
Description

Low-power micrograph illustrating the general preservation of the cytoplasm in a Micrasterias cell stabilized by ultrarapid freezing. The large, sheetlike membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) stand out against the other, small organelles. Note the relationship of the RER membrane to the Golgi complex. Mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, large vesicles, small vesicles, and plasma membrane. Technical details: Cultures of Micrasterias denticulata were obtained from the Algal Culture Collection, University of Indiana (Cat. No . LB558) . Cells were grown in Waris medium MS at 18°C on a 15/9-h, fight-dark cycle. For each experiment, cells about halfway through the dark cycle were placed in fresh medium in continuous light. This treatment stimulated many cells to divide ~25 h later. Healthy, growing cells were then selected with a dissecting microscope and placed in a separate Petri dish containing growth medium buffered with 2 mM 2(N-morpholino)-ethane sulfonic acid adjusted to pH 6.0. Cells at the desired stage of development were then placed in another dish containing 1% glutaraldehyde in buffered medium and fixed for 20 min. Gold double-replica supports (Balzers High Vacuum Corp ., Santa Ana, Calif.) were coated with a thin layer of yeast paste. Fixed cells were placed on one support and the second support was placed on top. This "sandwich" was plunged into liquid propane near its melting point and stored in liquid nitrogen. Cells were ultrarapidly frozen using a propane-jet device of the type described by Miiller et al (see reference). Samples were prepared as described above, with the following exceptions: cells were frozen directly in growth medium, without prior fixation; the gold supports used had been hollowed out, leaving a metal thickness of 127 micron and the propane-jet device was used. Samples were fractured and replicated using a Balzers double-replica device in a Balzers BA 360 freeze-etch unit. Fracturing was done at -110°C. The yeast paste allowed recovery of large, intact replicas; these were cleaned in commercial bleach and 70% sulfuric acid at 60°C. Replicas were examined in a JEOL EM 100C at 2,000X magnification. Image reference: PMID: 7364870. Ribosome binding sites visualized on freeze-fractured membranes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Giddings TH Jr, Staehelin LA. J Cell Biol. 1980 Apr;85(1):147-52.

Attribution
Names
Thomas Giddings
Citation
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
doi:10.7295/W9CIL13148
Archival Resource Key (ARK)
ark:/b7295/w9cil13148
Grouping This image is part of a group.
Imaging
Image Type
transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Image Mode
transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Parameters Imaged
electron density
Source of Contrast
electron density
Visualization Methods
shadowing and plating
Data Qualifiers
raw, unprocessed data
suitable for spatial measurements
Sample Preparation
Methods
glutaraldehyde fixed tissue
freeze_fracture/freeze_etch
Relation To Intact Cell
whole mounted tissue
Dimensions
Spatial Axis Image Size Pixel Size
X 3481px 10nm
Y 4552px 10nm