title: Visualization of the nucleus and nuclear envelope in situ by SEM in tissue culture cells.
abstract: Our previous work characterizing the biogenesis and structural integrity of the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) has been based on amphibian material but has recently progressed into the analysis of tissue-culture cells. This protocol describes methods for the high resolution visualization, by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), of the nucleus and associated structures in tissue culture cells. Imaging by fluorescence light microscopy shows general nuclear and NPC information at a resolution of approximately 200 nm, in contrast to the 3-5 nm resolution provided by FESEM or transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which generates detail at the macromolecular level. The protocols described here are applicable to all tissue culture cell lines tested to date (HeLa, A6, DLD, XTC and NIH 3T3). The processed cells can be stored long term under vacuum. The protocol can be completed in 5 d, including 3 d for cell growth, 1 d for processing and 1 d for imaging.
authors.affiliation: Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX, UK. tallen@picr.man.ac.uk
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiseleva
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014982:Xenopus laevis