ECM Macromolecules: Rotary Shadowing and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Conventional preparation techniques for electron microscopy employ contrast enhancing heavy metal stains in solution to visualize isolated macromolecules. In rotary shadowing electron microscopy, the heavy metal is evaporated onto surface adsorbed molecules and macromolecular assemblies. High resolution shadowing remains a valuable method for the visualization and characterization of extracellular matrix macromolecules including fibrillar collagens, microfibrillar elements, and glycoproteins.