Ribosomes and secretory granules in human mast cells: close associations demonstrated by staining with a chelating agent.
The distribution of ribosomes was investigated in mature human mast cells with a chelation-based staining protocol known to bleach DNA-rich structures, leaving RNA-rich structures unbleached. With this method, electron-dense ribosomes were adjacent to, attached to, and within secretory granules, which were also bleached with the chelation method that we used. The finding of these ribosome-secretory granule relationships suggests that secretory granules in mature human mast cells may participate in RNA metabolism.
Dvorak
A M
AM
Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School,  Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. advorak@caregroup.harvard.edu
Morgan
E S
ES
D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D002951:Citrates / Q000032:analysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D002951:Citrates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C005460:uranyl acetate; D007854:Lead; D004492:Edetic Acid