Immunoelectron microscopy of Bacillus subtilis cells secreting human interferon alpha 1 or staphylokinase

Post-embedding labelling techniques with colloidal gold-IgG or -protein A complexes were used to determine the subcellular location of IFN alpha 1 and staphylokinase secreted from Bacillus subtilis GB500 cells. Both proteins were present in the cytoplasma and the cell envelope pointing to a posttranslational mode of translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane. 5- to 10-fold higher concentrations of gold particles per 0.1 micron 2 were found on the cell envelope and clustering was observed suggesting preferential regions for secretion sites. Several control experiments ensured the specificity of the labelling data.