Chemical cross-linking: reagents and problems in studies of membrane structure.

INTRODUCTION AND PERSPECTIVE ....... 524 THE PROCEDURE AND THE PROBLEMS. . . . . .... ...... . . .. . ... . . .... .... . 525 CHEMISTRY OF SELECTED REAGENTS 527 Alkyl Imidates (lmidoesters} 527 Synthesis 528 Reaction paths and mechanisms 528 Use as modifYing reagents 531 Acyl Azides 532 Sulfhydryl Reagents 532 Nitrenes 534 Glutaraldehyde 537 Cross-linking Reversal-Cleavable Reagents 539 APPLICATIONS IN A FEW SELECTED SYSTEMS 540 Ribosomes ,. 540 Histones 542 Red Cells 542 Mitochondria 545 Escherichia coli .... ... ..... ....... ..... ....... .... ... ...... ...... ....... .... ... ... ......... ..... ... ..... ... 545 Sarcoplasmic Reticulum 546 Other Preparations 547 PROGNOSIS 549