The interior of a whole and unmodified biological object--the zymogen granule--viewed with a high-resolution X-ray microscope.
We report the ability of focused soft X-rays to visualize at spatial resolution well beyond that of the optical microscope (less than 100 nm) the interior of a small, whole biological object without fixation, staining, dehydration or sectioning. Quantitative estimation of its protein content with unique femtogram sensitivity is also reported. The present results represent a significant step towards the goals of natural imaging and chemical mapping of biological structures with soft X-rays.
Rothman
S S
SS
University of California, San Francisco.
Iskander
N
N
Attwood
D
D
Vladimirsky
Y
Y
McQuaid
K
K
Grendell
J
J
Kirz
J
J
Ade
H
H
McNulty
I
I
Kern
D
D
D000818:Animals; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014965:X-Rays
D004792:Enzyme Precursors