Isolation of Dictyostelium nuclei for light and electron microscopy

Methods Mol Biol. 2013:983:283-94. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-302-2_15.

Abstract

The significance of amoebae for studies of nuclear architecture has considerably increased in the recent years. The availability of a protocol for isolation of nuclei in a quality sufficient for high-resolution light and electron microscopy is a prerequisite for such studies. Here we present a protocol for high enrichment of nuclei by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation. Moreover, we describe how to use these isolated nuclei as specimens for immunofluorescence and immune-electron microscopy of ultrathin sections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Fractionation / methods*
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure*
  • Centrifugation, Density Gradient / methods
  • Dictyostelium / cytology*
  • Dictyostelium / metabolism
  • Dictyostelium / ultrastructure
  • Fixatives / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron / methods
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism
  • Nuclear Envelope / ultrastructure
  • Plastic Embedding

Substances

  • Fixatives