FREEZE-FRACTURE IMMUNOGOLD LABELING

Several approaches have been developed to combine immunogold cytochemi stry and freeze-fracture techniques. These methods are highly heteroge neous regarding both the sequence of the procedural steps and the aspe ct of the resulting images. They imply immunolabeling either before or after freeze-fracture or even immunolabeling of platinum/carbon repli cas of the freeze-fractured membranes, and have been used alternativel y or in parallel to address different questions related to cell membra ne structure, composition and dynamics or to intracellular membrane tr affic. This review will briefly describe these methods and report most of their immunogold cytochemical applications, with the aim of facili tating selection of the most appropriate approach.