Two improved methods for preparing ferritin-protein conjugates for electron microscopy

Two improved procedures were developed for activating ferritin so that the ferritin could be covalently linked to antibodies. One procedure involved use of a water-soluble carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide to prepare ferritin-containing activated esters. The other involved activation of the ferritin with excess glutaraldehyde. The ferritin-antibody conjugates prepared with the two procedures were shown to have a number of properties which made them suitable for locating antigenic components in cells.