Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, P(CH2OH)3 - A convenient and effective new reagent for the fixation of protein samples for SEM imaging

Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine [P(CH2OH)(3), THP] is demonstrated to be an alternative fixative to glutaraldehyde for preparation of proteinaceous specimens for SEM analysis. THP is easily prepared from commercially-available [P(CH2OH)(4)]Cl, and unlike many other alkylphosphines, is reasonably air-stable [>7 days at pH 7-8]. Experiments carried out with chicken breast muscle, cross-sectioned perpendicular to the muscle fibres and imaged using SEM, indicate that THP effectively fixes the muscle structure with minimal discolouration of the sample. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.