Introduction

The Web Atlas of Cellular Structures was created to serve as a useful educational resource for people interested in cytology who do not have access to advanced imaging technologies or cell biological expertise. It displays a series of light and confocal micrographs illustrating a variety of subcellular structures and organelles.

We have employed a cultured epithelial cell line, CV1-monkey kidney cells, for these experiments and stained for such organelles as the Golgi apparatus, the endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, and several cytoskeletal elements. Protocols for each staining as well as a description of the microscopes utilized are provided. Confocal and fluorescent microscopy images help to reveal the intriguing structures of the cell. We hope also to demonstrate the high quality imaging techniques available for such visualization.

The authors also direct the reader to view Cell Biological Applications of Fluorescence Microscopy (Technical Report 99-006 issued April 1999) by Stephen Rogers. In it you will find detailed descriptions of specimen production (pros and cons of fixation with various types of fixatives, permeabilization, blocking, mounting media to prevent photobleaching) and specific techniques for staining structures presented in this website-microtubules, actin, DNA, golgi apparatus, and the endoplasmic reticulum.

This project has been made possible with the support of the Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology's Imaging Technology Group at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

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