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Cryofixation of Dynamic Processes in Cells and Organelles

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Cryotechniques in Biological Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Electron microscope analysis of cells depends on fixation; the goal is to trap the native state of dynamic structures and distribution patterns of components (Plattner and Bachmann 1982). This intention of fixation is, of course, not restricted to applications in electron microscopy. Attempts to literally “freeze” the living structure by cryofixation can be traced back to the last century, and were extended to electron microscopy in its very early days (compiled by Rash 1983). The main problem with simply freezing a biological specimen in order to fix it, is destruction caused by ice crystals. This freezing damage hampers further analysis, in particular at the high resolution level obtained with the electron microscope. For this reason, chemical fixation procedures have routinely been used, although their limitations and risks have been well recognized (Fernandez-Moran 1964; Rebhun 1965). On the other hand, the drawbacks of chemical treatments have stimulated the development of rapid freezing techniques which reduce the formation of ice crystals (Van Harreveld and Crowell 1964).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Konstanz, D-7750, Konstanz, Germany

    Gerd Knoll & Helmut Plattner

  2. Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Arie J. Verkleij

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  1. Gerd Knoll
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  2. Arie J. Verkleij
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  3. Helmut Plattner
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  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8131, Seewiesen, Germany

    Rudolf Alexander Steinbrecht

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Systemphysiologie, Rheinlanddamm 201, D-4600, Dortmund, Germany

    Karl Zierold

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Knoll, G., Verkleij, A.J., Plattner, H. (1987). Cryofixation of Dynamic Processes in Cells and Organelles. In: Steinbrecht, R.A., Zierold, K. (eds) Cryotechniques in Biological Electron Microscopy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72815-0_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72815-0_14

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