Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung mit Osmiumtetroxid fixierter globulÄrer Eiweisse

Summary

Myoglobin, albumin, haemoglobin and γ-globulin were fixed with osmium tetroxide and studied in the electron microscope. The molecules are represented on the electron micrographs as electron-dense, roughly circular dots. Occasionally aggregations of molecules can be observed; in some cases a separation of the molecules into subunits occurs. It is interesting to note that, according to these results, albumin and γ-globulin have roughly spherical shapes. Though the possibility of artefacts must be considered the electron microscopical investigation of proteins fixed with osmium tetroxide contributes to the knowledge of their structure, and also helps in the interpretation of electron micrographs of cellular structures.