Does freeze-substitution reveal the hydrophobic nature of interprotofilament bonding in microtubules?
The massive system of microtubules in the ovarioles of Notonecta glauca has been prepared for electron microscopy by means of freeze-substitution. With this technique the protofilaments comprising the microtubule walls can be observed in positive image, indicating that the procedure provides a valuable method for observing microtubule substructure. Surprisingly though, the cryoprotectants, which are an integral part of the method, caused a rearrangement of the microtubules from their usual pattern in the ovarioles. These observations, we believe, provide an insight into intra- and intermicrotubule interactions respectively.
D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005260:Female; D005615:Freezing; D007313:Insecta / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010053:Ovary / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014867:Water
D014867:Water