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Transferrin Endocytosis in Reticulocytes: An Electron Microscope Study using Colloidal Gold
Author(s) -
Light A.,
Morgan E. H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1982.tb00516.x
Subject(s) - endocytosis , transferrin , vesicle , chemistry , receptor mediated endocytosis , transferrin receptor , pronase , colloidal gold , biochemistry , electron microscope , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane , biology , cell , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , materials science , trypsin , physics , optics , enzyme
The endocytosis of transferrin by rabbit reticulocytes was investigated by electron microscopy using transferrin labelled with colloidal gold. This complex was shown to bind and donate its iron to the cells in a manner comparable to native iron‐transferrin. After incubation at 37°C approximately 70% of the transferrin‐gold particles were located within endocytotic vesicles. Treatment of the cells with pronase, EDTA, metabolic inhibitors and heating to 46°C inhibited the endocytosis. The uptake of colloidal gold complexes of albumin and concanavalin A were compared with that of transferrin. Little endocytosis of these proteins was observed. It is concluded that colloidal gold is a suitable label for the investigation of transferrin endocytosis and that the endocytosis is specific for transferrin and sensitive to the action of reagents which damage membrane receptors, alter membrane function or impair cell metabolism.