High-throughput screening of mitotic mammalian cells for electron microscopy using classic histological dyes

Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/ReportChapter in book/Anthology/ReportContributed

Contributors

Abstract

We introduce a new workflow that allows screening and selection of staged mammalian cells in mitosis prior to subsequent electron microscopy. We mainly describe four improved steps of specimen preparation. Firstly, we describe a method to efficiently enrich mammalian cells and attach them to sapphire discs; secondly, we report on the use of 3D-printed containers to seed cells on coated sapphire discs for high-pressure freezing; thirdly, we take advantage of a specimen carrier that allows for an upside-down placing of sapphire discs without a second carrier or spacer ring to close the “sandwich”; and fourthly, we use histological dyes to stain DNA/chromatin during freeze-substitution. Out of 14 tested histological dyes, we routinely use four of them for visual inspection of mitotic cells by light microscopy. Applying this streamlined workflow, HeLa cells at different stages of mitosis can be selected for further ultrastructural analysis. The practical aspects of this approach will be discussed herein.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCorrelative Light and Electron Microscopy IV
EditorsThomas Müller-Reichert, Paul Verkade
Pages151-170
Number of pages20
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021
Peer-reviewedNo

Publication series

SeriesMethods in cell biology
Volume162
ISSN0091-679X

External IDs

Scopus 85092014078
Mendeley 63f63b8b-11ee-323c-8821-1e9698f0939f

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas