[Immunogold labeling electron microscopy showing vimentin filament anchored on nuclear pore complex]

Abstract

The relationship between intermediate filament and nucleus is an important question to be solved. By combining sequential cell fractionation with immunoblotting, we showed that the intermediate filament protein in turkey erythrocyte is vimentin. Using pre-embedment immunogold labeling techniques together with sequential cell fractionation, we showed that cytoplasmic intermediate filaments in turkey erythrocyte are labeled specifically by rabbit anti-vimentin antibody-protein A-gold. Moreover, we showed that the cytoplasmic filaments anchored on nuclear pore complex were also labeled by rabbit anti-vimentin antibody-protein A-gold specifically. Our results demonstrated that cytoplasmic filaments anchored on nuclear pore complex was vimentin filament. The experiments indicated that vimentin filament may be anchored on nuclear pore complex by binding with Nup 180 and intermediate filament may be involved in nuclear transportation.