title: Freeze-fracture immunocytochemistry: fracture-label and label-fracture for the localization of membrane proteins.
abstract: Freeze-fracture is a unique investigative tool for visualization of the en face topography of individual membrane leaflets of cell membranes at high resolution under the electron microscope. The development of a system of freeze-fracture cytochemical and immunocytochemical techniques has further advanced the utility of this methodological approach for high-resolution localization of specific membrane and intracellular macromolecules in tissues and cells. The unit focuses on description, in a step-by-step manner, of the experimental procedures for two specific freeze-fracture labeling techniques, namely fracture-label and label-fracture. Users are guided in a stepwise manner, starting from the preparation of tissue or cell samples to the final retrieval and mounting of fracture-label and label-fracture specimens for examination on the electron microscope.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Frederick W K
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Kan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: cell membranes; fracture-label; freeze-fracture immunocytochemistry; immunolabeling; label-fracture