Biomaterial Database

The use of low temperature X-ray diffraction to evaluate freezing methods used in freeze-fracture electron microscopy. 1978

T Gulik-Krzywicki, and M J Costello

Two methods of freezing samples for freeze-fracture electron microscopy have been compared using X-ray diffraction and freeze-fracture results from lipid-water model systems. Perturbations of the molecular organization of hydrocarbon chains and the extent of ice crystal formation have been evaluated for lamellar phases of egg lecithin containing 16% water and egg lecithin-phosphatidylinositol containing 55% water, both freeze quenched in liquid Freon-22 near its melting temperature (113 K). Very thin samples sandwiched between copper sheets separated by an electron microscope grid show much less freezing induced structural rearrangement than small smaples contained on conventional Balzers-type gold planchettes. These results show that the rate of freezing in the very thin preparations is greater than in the conventional ones, which is probably due in part to the improved dissipation of heat from a poorly conductive sample through highly conductive copper sheets.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D008968	Molecular Conformation	The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule.	Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D010713	Phosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety.	Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D010716	Phosphatidylinositols	Derivatives of phosphatidic acids in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to the hexahydroxy alcohol, myo-inositol. Complete hydrolysis yields 1 mole of glycerol, phosphoric acid, myo-inositol, and 2 moles of fatty acids.	Inositide Phospholipid,Inositol Phosphoglyceride,Inositol Phosphoglycerides,Inositol Phospholipid,Phosphoinositide,Phosphoinositides,PtdIns,Inositide Phospholipids,Inositol Phospholipids,Phosphatidyl Inositol,Phosphatidylinositol,Inositol, Phosphatidyl,Phosphoglyceride, Inositol,Phosphoglycerides, Inositol,Phospholipid, Inositide,Phospholipid, Inositol,Phospholipids, Inositide,Phospholipids, Inositol
D005614	Freeze Fracturing	Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica.	Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D014867	Water	A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Hydrogen Oxide
D014961	X-Ray Diffraction	The scattering of x-rays by matter, especially crystals, with accompanying variation in intensity due to interference effects. Analysis of the crystal structure of materials is performed by passing x-rays through them and registering the diffraction image of the rays (CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, X-RAY). (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Xray Diffraction,Diffraction, X-Ray,Diffraction, Xray,Diffractions, X-Ray,Diffractions, Xray,X Ray Diffraction,X-Ray Diffractions,Xray Diffractions