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Negative Staining and Cryo-negative Staining: Applications in Biology and Medicine

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Electron Microscopy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1117))

Abstract

Negative staining is widely applicable to isolated viruses, protein molecules, macromolecular assemblies and fibrils, subcellular membrane fractions, liposomes and artificial membranes, synthetic DNA arrays, and also to polymer solutions and a variety of nanotechnology samples. Techniques are provided for the preparation of the necessary support films (continuous carbon and holey/perforated carbon). The range of suitable negative stains is presented, with some emphasis on the benefit of using ammonium molybdate and of negative stain–trehalose combinations. Protocols are provided for the single droplet negative staining technique (on continuous and holey carbon support films), the floating and carbon sandwich techniques in addition to the negative staining-carbon film (NS-CF) technique for randomly dispersed fragile molecules, 2D crystallization of proteins and for cleavage of cells and organelles. Immuno-negative staining and negative staining of affinity labeled complexes (e.g., biotin–streptavidin) are presented in some detail. The formation of immune complexes in solution for droplet negative staining is given, as is the use of carbon–plastic support films as an adsorption surface on which to perform immunolabeling or affinity experiments, prior to negative staining. Dynamic biological systems can be investigated by negative staining, where the time period is in excess of a few minutes, but there are possibilities to greatly reduce the time by rapid stabilization of molecular systems with uranyl acetate or tannic acid. The more recently developed cryo-negative staining procedures are also included: first, the high concentration ammonium molybdate procedure on holey carbon films and second, the carbon sandwich procedure using uranyl formate. Several electron micrographs showing examples of applications of negative staining techniques are included and the chapter is thoroughly referenced.

The authors dedicate this chapter to the late Robert (Bob) W. Horne (21st January, 1923–13th November, 2010).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    J. Robin Harris

  2. Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

    J. Robin Harris

  3. Netherlands Center for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN), FEI Company Europe, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Sacha De Carlo

  4. FEI, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Sacha De Carlo

Authors
  1. J. Robin Harris
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  2. Sacha De Carlo
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    John Kuo

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Harris, J.R., De Carlo, S. (2014). Negative Staining and Cryo-negative Staining: Applications in Biology and Medicine. In: Kuo, J. (eds) Electron Microscopy. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1117. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-776-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-776-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-775-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-776-1

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