Immunocytochemical Localization of Cytoskeletal Proteins and Histone 2B in Isolated Membrane- depleted Nuclei, Metaphase Chromatin, and Whole Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Immunocytochemical techniques employing protein A-gold labeling were used to locate actin, tubulin, and histone 2B in thin sections of embedded, isolated membrane-depleted nuclei, metaphase chromosomes, and whole Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Actin and tubulin were detected in significant amounts in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of whole cells. The isolated membrane-depleted nuclei and metaphase chromosomes showed levels of actin and tubulin labeling either comparable to or sometimes lower than the levels of labeling in whole interphase cells. The results suggest that actin and tubulin are normal components of nuclei throughout the cell cycle. A mouse monoclonal antibody to histone 2B gave relatively weak labeling of nuclei and chromosomes in whole cells but intense labeling of isolated nucleoids and chromosomes. An increased concentration of antibody at the periphery of interphase nucleoids was noted.