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A simple fracturing device for obtaining complementary replicas of freeze‐fractured and freeze‐etched suspensions and tissue fragments
Author(s) -
Sleytr Uwe B.,
Umrath Walter
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1974.tb03880.x
Subject(s) - rivet , materials science , etching (microfabrication) , brass , deformation (meteorology) , composite material , position (finance) , metallurgy , layer (electronics) , copper , finance , economics
SUMMARY Techniques for obtaining complementary replicas have already been shown to be valuable in aiding the interpretation of electron micrographs of replicas of specimens prepared by freeze‐etching and freeze‐fracturing techniques, and in the recognition of artefacts. This paper describes a simple and efficient method of obtaining complementary pairs of replicas of all types of specimen. Ordinary hollow brass rivets are used as specimen holders and are frozen in an end‐to‐end position using a special pair of forceps. Up to six rivets are placed in a device consisting of a hinged plate held together with clamps against the force of small springs. When the clamps are released, the pair of rivets are separated, fracturing the specimens. The device is easily adapted for use in any type of freeze‐etching or high vacuum apparatus. On the example of Saccharomyces cerevisiae the application of the technique to the detection of artefacts in complementary replicas are described. It was shown that the fibrils observed on cross‐fractured cell walls are produced by plastic deformation of cell wall components.