Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The invention relates to a one-step chemical composition that preserves animal tissue, cells, and biomolecules, such as human tissue, human cells, and biomolecules therein. It improves the fidelity and morphologic structure of cells, organelles, and nuclear chromatin, and maintains and enhances the cellular antigenicity for immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, while preserving proteins, post-translational modifications of proteins, and nucleic acids. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a) a non-aldehyde precipitating fixative at a concentration below 25% (volume/volume), b) a reversible/cleavable protein cross-linker that targets lipid-associated molecules, and c) a c reversible/cleavable protein cross-linker that targets water soluble molecules. In another embodiment, the composition further includes a kinase inhibitor, a phosphatase inhibitor, and a permeation enhancer. In still another embodiment, the compositions further include lactic acid at a concentration sufficient to maintain cellular nuclear volume at a level equivalent to aldehyde fixation of the same type of cell. In a further embodiment, the composition comprises: a) a precipitating fixative, b) a reversible/cleavable cross-linker, c) a permeation enhancer, d) a kinase inhibitor, e) a phosphatase inhibitor, and f) a carboxylic acid. In a still further embodiment, the invention comprises method for preserving a biological sample by contacting the sample with the composition of the invention under conditions effective for the preservation of the sample.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim