Deoxyribonucleic acid sequence mapping on metaphase chromosomes by immunoelectron microscopy

Nucleic acid sequences can be localized on chromosomes in the electron microscope after hybridization with a biotinylated DNA probe followed by detection with a primary antibiotin antibody and a secondary antibody coupled to colloidal gold. Hybridization probes can also be labelled with alternative ligands such as N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), Dinitrophenyl-dUTP and Digoxigenin-dUTP. Multiple labelling is possible if these differently modified DNA probes are used in conjunction with colloidal gold preparations of varying particle sizes. A substantial signal amplification can be achieved by incubating preparations with successive cycles of primary antibiotin antibody followed by a biotinylated secondary antibody. Detection is with Streptavidin-gold, and in the case of highly and moderately repeated sequences, the signal is visible in the light microscope. Detailed protocols are given for EM in-situ hybridization to whole mount metaphase chromosomes and include instructions necessary to perform multiple sequence localization and signal amplification.