Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
09:22
Direct Synthesis of EM-Visible Gold Nanoparticles in Cells for Protein Localization Analysis with Well-Preserved Ultrastructure
Published on: April 28, 2023
Preparation of gold probes
1Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, UK.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 22, 2012
Summary
Colloidal gold probes, essential for biological microscopy, are electron-dense gold spheres coated with active proteins. Understanding their construction is key for effective use in scientific imaging.
Area of Science:
- Biological Sciences
- Microscopy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Colloidal gold probes are vital tools in biological sciences.
- They are utilized for both light and electron microscopy applications.
- These probes consist of electron-dense gold spheres.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the critical aspects of colloidal gold probe preparation.
- To provide a foundational understanding for researchers using these probes.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of gold nanoparticles.
- Coating gold nanoparticles with immunologically active proteins.
- Characterization of probe properties for microscopy.
Main Results:
- Established protocols for creating uniform gold nanoparticle spheres.
- Demonstrated successful functionalization with specific proteins.
- Verified electron density for enhanced imaging contrast.
Conclusions:
- The preparation of colloidal gold probes involves specific, critical steps.
- Properly prepared probes are indispensable for advanced biological imaging techniques.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Immunogold Electron Microscopy
Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.
03:31Labeling DNA Probes
DNA probes are fragments of DNA labeled with a reporter tag to enable their detection or purification. The resulting labeled DNA probes can then hybridize to target nucleic acid sequences through complementary base-pairing, and may be used to recover or identify these regions.
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...