Electron spectroscopic imaging for high-resolution immunocytochemistry: use of boronated protein A

In the present study we adapted electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) for high-resolution immunocytochemistry. To accomplish this, we applied boronated protein A (B-pA) for indirect detection of specific antigenic sites using pre-embedding and post-embedding protocols. Isolated acinar cells were exposed to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and anti-WGA, followed by B-pA, to reveal WGA binding sites at the level of the plasma membrane. The cells were then embedded in Epon and unstained ultra-thin sections were examined by electron microscopy using the ESI mode. For post-embedding, ultra-thin sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed, Lowicryl-embedded pancreatic tissue were exposed to specific antibodies (anti-insulin or anti-amylase), followed by B-pA. The unstained sections were examined using the ESI mode. In both cases, boron was detected with high resolution either at the level of the plasma membrane of acinar cells, demonstrating WGA binding sites, or over secretory granules in pancreatic insulin-secreting cells or acinar cells, demonstrating insulin and amylase, respectively. These findings were compared to those obtained with the protein A-gold technique, and have demonstrated the analogy of both types of labeling. In addition, several control experiments assessed this novel approach. They have demonstrated the specificity of labeling and the high reactivity of B-pA, as well as its antibody-binding properties. Finally, electron energy loss spectral analysis confirmed the presence of boron in the tissue sections at sites where immunolabeling was detected. These results demonstrate that ESI is an appropriate approach for cytochemistry. Since the technique is based on detection of elements, spatial resolution is considered to be in the magnitude of 0.5 nm, which represents a major improvement in resolution over actual electron microscopic cytochemical techniques.