Strategy and tactics in electron microscopy of cell surfaces

Platinum replicas of broken-open osteoclasts imaged by transmission electron microscopy

BACKGROUND

Preserving the cellular structure at the highest possible resolution is a prerequisite for morphological studies to deepen our understanding of cellular functions. A revival of interest in rapid-freezing methods combined with breaking-open techniques has taken place with the development of effective and informative approaches in platinum replica electron microscopy, thus providing new approaches to address unresolved issues in cell biology.

HIGHLIGHT

The images produced with platinum replicas revealed 3D structures of the cell interior: (1) cell membranes associated with highly organized cytoskeletons, including podosomes or geodomes, (2) heterogeneous clathrin assemblies and membrane skeletons on the inner side of the membrane, and (3) organization of the cytoskeleton after detergent extraction.

CONCLUSION

In this review, I will focus on the platinum replica method after brokenopen cells have been broken open with mechanical shearing or detergent extraction. Often forgotten nowadays is the use of platinum replicas with stereomicroscopic observations for transmission electron microscopy study; these "old-fashioned" imaging techniques, combined with the breaking-open technique represent a highly informative approach to deepen our understanding of the organization of the cell interior. These are still being pursued to answer outstanding biological questions.

The metabolism of lipids in yeasts and applications in oenology

Lipids are valuable compounds present in all living organisms, which display an array of functions related to compartmentalization, energy storage and enzyme activation. Furthermore, these compounds are an integral part of the plasma membrane which is responsible for maintaining structure, facilitating the transport of solutes in and out of the cell and cellular signalling necessary for cell survival. The lipid composition of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been extensively investigated and the impact of lipids on S. cerevisiae cellular functions during wine alcoholic fermentation is well documented. Although other yeast species are currently used in various industries and are receiving increasing attention in winemaking, little is known about their lipid metabolism. This review article provides an extensive and critical evaluation of our knowledge on the biosynthesis, accumulation, metabolism and regulation of fatty acids and sterols in yeasts. The implications of the yeast lipid content on stress resistance as well as performance during alcoholic fermentation are discussed and a particular emphasis is given on non-Saccharomyces yeasts. Understanding lipid requirements and metabolism in non-Saccharomyces yeasts may lead to a better management of these yeast to enhance their contributions to wine properties.

Scattered podosomes and podosomes associated with the sealing zone architecture in cultured osteoclasts revealed by cell shearing, quick freezing, and platinum-replica electron microscopy

Osteoclasts (OCs) can adhere to a variety of substrate surfaces by highly dynamic actin-based cytoskeletal structures termed podosomes. This tight attachment is established by a sealing zone (SZ), which is made of interconnected individual podosomes. Compared with scattered podosomes in various cell types, the architecture of the SZ is still unclear. Especially, ultrastructural studies on the details of the cytoskeletal structure of an OC have been challenging, because the high density of filaments in their podosomes obscure visualization of individual filaments. Therefore, to study this organization in more exact detail, we employed shearing open combined with replica electron microscopy. The present study provides several new details of the podosome and SZ structure, which were previously unrecognized: (a) the SZ consists of recognizable podosomes with a dense actin network of interpodosomal regions characterized by multiple layers of crossing, branching and anastomosing actin filament networks; (b) the Arp2/3 complex is distributed throughout the actin network of podosomes and SZ, indicating that actin polymerization is concentrated at these regions; (c) a close spatial relationship between the podosome and the dorsal membrane; and (d) a network of membranous organelles in close proximity to the podosomes in the SZ. Taken together, the present study reveals that a more complicated interpodosomal actin network among neighboring individual podosomes, which is more complicated than previously thought, appears to form the SZ. Indeed, individual podosomes are not an isolated structural unit from other organelles; and, in turn, their dynamism might affect the surrounding interpodosomal cytoskeletons, membranous organelles, and plasma membrane.

Inverting adherent cells for visualizing ECM interactions at the basal cell side

Interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) govern a wide range of cellular functions, including survival, migration and invasion. However, in adherent cells these interactions occur primarily on the basal cell side, making them inaccessible to high-resolution, surface-scanning imaging techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Here we describe a fast and reliable method for inverting adherent cells, exposing the basal cell membrane for direct analysis by AFM or SEM in combination with fluorescence microscopy. Cells including their matrix adhesion sites remain intact during the inversion process and are transferred together with the complete array of basally associated ECM proteins. Molecular features of ECM proteins, such as the characteristic 67 nm collagen D-periodicity, are well preserved after inversion. To demonstrate the versatility of the method, we compared basal interactions of fibroblasts with fibrillar collagen I and fibronectin matrices. While fibroblasts remodel the fibronectin layer exclusively from above, they actively invade even thin collagen layers by contacting individual collagen nanofibrils both basally and apically through a network of cellular extensions. Cell-matrix entanglement coincides with enhanced cell spreading and flattening, indicating that nanoscale ECM interactions govern macroscopic changes in cell morphology. The presented cell inversion technique can thus provide novel insight into nanoscale cell-matrix interactions at the basal cell side.

Biochemical characterization of the cell-biomaterial interface by quantitative proteomics

Surface topography and texture of cell culture substrata can affect the differentiation and growth of adherent cells. The biochemical basis of the transduction of the physical and mechanical signals to cellular responses is not well understood. The lack of a systematic characterization of cell-biomaterial interaction is the major bottleneck. This study demonstrated the use of a novel subcellular fractionation method combined with quantitative MS-based proteomics to enable the robust and high-throughput analysis of proteins at the adherence interface of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. This method revealed the enrichment of extracellular matrix proteins and membrane and stress fibers proteins at the adherence surface, whereas it shows depletion of extracellular matrix belonging to the cytoplasmic, nucleus, and lateral and apical membranes. The asymmetric distribution of proteins between apical and adherence sides was also profiled. Apart from classical proteins with clear involvement in cell-material interactions, proteins previously not known to be involved in cell attachment were also discovered.

Naturally occurring anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies: relationship to xenoreactive anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies

Antibodies produced by an individual without a known history of sensitization to the relevant antigen are called "natural" antibodies. Some natural antibodies, called xenoreactive antibodies, react with the cells of foreign species. Most xenoreactive antibodies in humans and higher primates bind to a nonreducing terminal galactose expressed by pigs and other lower mammals. Although human natural antibodies which bind to one or more of a variety of terminal alpha-galactosyl structures have been identified previously, the antigen recognized by anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies on the cells of foreign species is thought to be exclusively Galalpha1-3Gal. Thus, anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies which do not react with Galalpha1-3Gal are thought to be nonxenoreactive. Here, we identify natural antibodies in human serum which bind to Galalpha1-6Hexosepyrranosides but not Galalpha1-3Gal, indicating that these antibodies are not xenoreactive. Various lower mammals were found to have natural anti-Galalpha1-2Gal antibodies in their sera, suggesting that at least some anti-Galalpha1-2Gal antibodies might not be xenoreactive and indicating, surprisingly, that anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies are much more phylogenetically disperse than previously known. Also surprising was the finding that some natural antibodies which bind to Galalpha1-3Gal in vitro do not bind to porcine xenografts. These studies show that naturally occurring anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies in mammalian serum include antibodies with a greater variety of reactivities than previously thought, only some of which would bind to a porcine xenograft. Further, these studies show that the methods used to detect anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies of relevance in xenotransplantation must be carefully evaluated to avoid detection of anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies which would not bind to a porcine organ and which therefore are not involved in xenograft rejection.

Preparation of basal cell membranes for scanning probe microscopy

Scanning probe microscopy has the potential for investigating membranes in a physiological environment. We prepared with a lysis-squirting protocol basal cell membranes, that are suitable for scanning probe microscopy. Investigations using atomic force microscopy under liquid revealed cellular filaments which correlated perfectly with fluorescently stained actin filaments. Globular structures with a diameter as little as 10 nm could be resolved by stripping cytoplasmic components from the membranes. Therefore, cytoplasmic sides of supported basal cell membranes prove useful to gain high resolution with scanning probe microscopy in studies of plasma membrane associated structures and processes under buffer solution.

Visualization of the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton network of mouse skeletal muscle cells by en face views and application to immunoelectron localization of dystrophin

The ultrastructural organization of the highly interconnected filamentous network underneath the sarcolemma as well as the role played by the muscle protein dystrophin within this cytoskeleton remain yet unclear. More accurate information has been obtained by using a method which provides three-dimensional en face views of large membrane areas applied to mouse cultured myotubes and isolated adult skeletal muscle fibres. Two levels have been distinguished in the cytoskeleton underlying the sarcolemma: the submembranous level, partly integrated into the membrane, and the cortical level, invading the proximal cytoplasmic space. Few differences have been found between the membrane cytoskeletons of myotubes issued from 14-day-old cultures and those of adult fibres. The comparison was done with cells where dystrophin is missing (mdx mouse muscle): surprisingly, the lack of dystrophin does not induce obvious or dramatic ultrastructural disorganization, either in the cortical cytoskeletal network or in the submembranous one. Immunogold labelling of either the central-rod or the C-terminal domain of dystrophin is not located among the cortical network. This study provides additional data on the spatial ordering of subsarcolemmal cytoskeletal elements: dystrophin does not appear as a filamentous structure entirely located among subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton but seems partly embedded in membranous material.

Cell/substratum adhesions in RSV-transformed rat fibroblasts

Cell/substratum adhesions have been studied in rat fibroblasts transformed by a ts-mutant of Rous sarcoma virus (LA-29) using light and electron microscopy and a variety of preparative methods including immunolabeling. Cells were studied both during the process of transformation, i.e., shifting from 39 degrees to 35 degrees C, and in a fully transformed state (passaged at 35 degrees C continuously). The typical focal contacts observed at 39 degrees C (restrictive temperature) were replaced by "point-contacts" (100-200 per cell) which were classified by immunolabeling as podosome-like adhesions containing actin, beta 1 integrin subunit, vinculin, talin, alpha-actinin, and small membrane patches containing clathrin and integrin. Tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and pp60src were found in association with groups of small particles on the protoplasmic surface of ventral membranes by gold immunolabeling. Both types of point-contacts were visualized by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections and shadowed replicas and characterized by gold immunolabeling wherever possible. The overall composition of podosome-like adhesions is similar to focal contacts but there are differences in the three-dimensional organization of the microfilaments and in the topography of vinculin which is associated more with actin filaments than with the plasma membrane. The presence of talin and extracellular matrix receptor in podosomes together with the adhesive properties of these actin-containing structures argues against the hypothesis that pp60src affects the interaction of actin with the plasma membrane by phosphorylating the fibronectin receptor and/or other associated proteins.

Method for the study of the underside of cultured cell monolayers

A novel procedure for reversing cell monolayers is described. Cells are embedded in liquid gelatin containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, cooled down to solidify gelatin, and then reversed. The main advantage of this technique is that cells are fixed after reversing so that the extracellular matrix does not obscure the cell surface. No substantial migration of receptors is likely to have taken place judging from the concentration of fibronectin receptor in typical focal or extracellular matrix contacts.

Freeze-fracture cytochemistry: a simplified guide and update on developments

A wide variety of methods by which cytochemistry and freeze-fracture can be successfully combined have recently become available. All these techniques are designed to provide information on the chemical nature of structural components revealed by freeze-fracture, but differ in how this is achieved, in precisely what type of information is obtained, and in which types of specimen can be studied. Colloidal gold labelling is the most widely used cytochemical technique in freeze-fracture cytochemistry, and for many of the methods it is indispensable. In principle, there are four points in which the cytochemical labelling step may be integrated into the standard freeze-fracture procedure: (i) before the specimen has been frozen, (ii) after it has been fractured and thawed, (iii) after platinum shadowing or (iv) after completion of the full replication sequence. Retention of the gold label so that it can be viewed with replicas can be achieved by depositing platinum and/or carbon upon the labelled surface, thereby partially entrapping the marker particles within the replica, or by retaining, attached to the replica, fragments of fractured membrane (or other cellular components) that would normally have been lost during the replica cleaning step. Another approach to visualizing the label is to use sections, either with portions of a replica included face-on, or for examining the fracture path through the sample (without replica). Recent developments have centered on the use of replicas to stabilize half-membrane leaflets; not only may these and associated attached components be retained for labelling just before mounting, but they provide a means for manipulating the specimen--specifically, turning it over during processing--so that additional structural information can be obtained. This article aims to explain how modern freeze-fracture cytochemistry works, and how the various techniques differ in what they can tell us about membranes and other cellular structures. With the effectiveness of many of the techniques now demonstrated, freeze-fracture cytochemistry is firmly established, alongside a range of related labelling techniques, for increasing application in cell and membrane biology in the 1990s.