Enzyme‐gold electron microscopic cytochemistry: A new affinity approach for the ultrastructural localization of macromolecules

Abstract

Abstract The enzyme‐gold postembedding approach has been introduced recently in the field of cytochemistry for the ultrastructural localization of macromolecules. This technique is based on the affinity properties existing between an enzyme and its substrate. The possibility of detecting substrate molecules by applying enzyme‐gold complexes has been established. The present review deals with the development and the technical approach of this method. Various applications are reported for the demonstration of the reliability of the technique that yields results of high specificity and resolution. In addition, some technical problems and limitations particular to this method are reported and discussed.