Ruthenium red preserves glycoprotein peplomers of C-type retroviruses for transmission electron microscopy.
Peplomers, the glycoprotein projections of the outer viral envelope, are distinctive for many viruses. Peplomers of retroviral C-type particles are fragile and are not preserved in standard preparations for transmission electron microscopy of thin sections, whereas the peplomers of B- and D- type retroviruses are usually preserved. Ruthenium red, extensively used in transmission electron microscopy to enhance the preservation of glycosylated proteins, was used in the preparation of three retrovirus-producing lymphoblastoid cell lines: murine SC-1 cells producing the C-type murine leukemia retrovirus LP-BM5 that causes immunodeficiency, human DG-75 cells producing a murine leukemia retrovirus, and human C5/MJ cells producing human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Fixation of cells was carried out with ruthenium red present in the glutaraldehyde, osmium tetroxide, and the ethanol dehydration through the 70% ethanol step. The detailed structure of peplomers of these three different viruses was well preserved.
Fassel
T A
TA
Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Raisch
K P
KP
Chetty
N
N
Grossberg
S E
SE
Kushnaryov
V M
VM
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012430:Ruthenium Red; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D012430:Ruthenium Red