Immunogold labelling of the intermediate filament-lamina-nuclear matrix system in HeLa and BHK-21 cells

Whole-mount, sequentially extracted cells combined with immunogold electron microscopy were developed to demonstrate the intermediate filaments, lamina, and nuclear matrix (IF-L-NM) and to identify their protein components. The IFs of HeLa cells were reacted both with keratin and vimentin monoclonal antibodies; meanwhile, the IF network of BHK-21 cell was reacted only with vimentin monoclonal antibody. The lamina and nuclear matrices of both HeLa and BHK-21 cell were labelled, respectively, with lamin monoclonal antibody-gold complex and 280 Kd nuclear matrix protein monoclonal antibody-gold complex. The monoclonal antibody to keratin could cross-react with the lamina both of HeLa and BHK-21 cells.