FC-MEDIATED IMMUNE PRECIPITATION .3. VISUALIZATION BY ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (3) , 469-476
Abstract
Fc-mediated interactions between immune complexes are of major importance for the precipitin reaction. These interactions were investigated by EM. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was adsorbed to a thin glow charged carbon supporting film and reacted with either rabbit anti-KLH IgG or anti-KLH F(ab'')2 fragments. The Fc-Fc interactions were investigated by reacting these surface-adsorbed antibody-rich KLH immune complexes with soluble, antigen-rich ferritin-anti-ferritin complexes using either rabbit anti-ferritin IgG or the corresponding isomolar F(ab'')2 fragments as antibody. Fc-Fc interactions were indicated by the formation of clusters or ring structures of ferritin molecules, which were only seen when using KLH anti-KLH IgG and ferritin-anti-ferritin IgG complexes. When F(ab'')2 fragments were used as antibody, no reaction between KLH anti-KLH complexes and ferritin-anti-ferritin complexes could be demonstrated.