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Staining and Embedding of Human Chromosomes for 3-D Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy

Yusuf, M; Chen, B; Hashimoto, T; Estandarte, AK; Thompson, G; Robinson, I; (2014) Staining and Embedding of Human Chromosomes for 3-D Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy. Biotechniques , 57 (6) pp. 302-307. 10.2144/000114236. Green open access

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Abstract

The high-order structure of human chromosomes is an important biological question that is still under investigation. Studies have been done on imaging human mitotic chromosomes using mostly 2-D microscopy methods. To image micron-sized human chromosomes in 3-D, we developed a procedure for preparing samples for serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM). Polyamine chromosomes are first separated using a simple filtration method and then stained with heavy metal. We show that the DNA-specific platinum blue provides higher contrast than osmium tetroxide. A two-step procedure for embedding chromosomes in resin is then used to concentrate the chromosome samples. After stacking the SBFSEM images, a familiar X-shaped chromosome was observed in 3-D.

Type: Article
Title: Staining and Embedding of Human Chromosomes for 3-D Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.2144/000114236
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.2144/000114236
Language: English
Additional information: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons CC BY license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: Chromosome, heavy metal staining, imaging, platinum blue, serial block-face electron microscopy, three-dimensional, Cell Line, Chromosomes, Human, Coloring Agents, Histocytological Preparation Techniques, Humans, Male, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Mitosis, Platinum
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > London Centre for Nanotechnology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1465676
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