Ultrastructural Localization of Diagnostically Relevant Melanoma-Specific Antibodies by Immunoelectron Microscopy

Abstract Postembedding immunoelectron microscopy can be used for the detection of antigenic sites in ultrathin sections. The protein A-gold technique, when used in conjunction with tissue dehydration at low temperature followed by embedding in a hydrophilic resin, can provide a satisfactory means for assessing the ultrastructural localization of diagnostically relevant antigens. In this brief article, we will demonstrate the usefulness of this technique to demonstrate the subcellular localization of the binding sites for the melanoma-associated antibodies HMB-45 and MART-1. (The J Histotechnol 26:263, 2003)