Scanning transmission electron microscopy of biological macromolecules

Cyclic tetramolecular complexes of monoclonal antibodies: a new type of cross-linking reagent

A simple and efficient procedure for the construction of bifunctional molecules is described and their use in a variety of applications documented. This procedure is based on our observation that mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibodies, when mixed with equimolar amounts of a high-affinity rat monoclonal antibody specific for mouse IgG1, yield uniform cyclic tetramolecular complexes each consisting of two mouse and two rat antibodies as shown by gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. When solutions of two mouse antibodies (e.g. a and b) are mixed prior to the formation of complexes with the rat antibody, stable bispecific (a X b) complexes together with monospecific (a X a and b X b) complexes are obtained. Bispecific complexes prepared in this way were able to efficiently bind peroxidase to cell surface antigens, and to bind red blood cells to selected nucleated cell types present in heterogeneous populations. Tetrameric antibody complexes are more easily prepared than bispecific antibodies or bifunctional antibodies produced by transfection of myelomas with recombinant genes. They also have the advantage that the antigen-binding properties of the bivalent monoclonal antibodies are not compromised. Tetrameric antibody complexes thus represent a powerful new type of cross-linking reagent that may have a wide spectrum of applications in biology and medicine.

The quaternary structure of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase studied with (scanning) transmission (immuno)electron microscopy

A model for the quaternary structure of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (nucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) is presented. It is based on results from classification of profiles of enzyme molecules, and from application of immuno electron microscopy. Classification of molecules, prepared with the single carbon layer technique, was first achieved for images recorded in dark field with the scanning transmission electron microscope and later on for images recorded in bright-field transmission electron microscopy. It results in five approximately equally sized groups, containing about 80% of the core enzyme profiles. Holoenzyme profiles can be grouped into the same classes, and have approximately the same dimensions (9 nm X 16 nm). Based on the shapes and sizes of the classified profiles, a tentative model for core enzyme has been constructed. Correlation of shadow projections of this model, with the distributions of attachment sites of antibodies against alpha, beta, beta' and sigma over the profiles, has led to models for core and holoenzyme in which the subunits are localized. The model is compared with literature data on the quaternary structure of RNA polymerase.

Improved visualization of single- and double-strained nucleic acids by STEM

Annular dark field STEM images have been used to visualize nucleic acid molecules positively stained with uranyl acetate. The regular distribution of uranium clusters makes clearly visible the existence of segments of double and single strands on partially denatured RNA molecules. Unpaired regions, as short as about 8 nm, are detectable by this combination of a highly efficient imaging mode and a well adapted preparation technique.