activity Protocols

Category: DNA Protocols: EMSA DNA-Protein Protocols

This protocol works well for HSF DNA-binding activity experiments. - [Read Gel Mobility Shift Assay in PDF format]

Category: Pharmacology and Toxicology Protocols: Cytotoxicity Protocols: Cell Specific Cytotoxicity Assays Protocols

Accumulation of lipophilic substances in the plasma membrane may affect the membrane lipid order and consequently affect the function of these proteins.  Changes in the activity of the Na+/K+ -ATPase, which is the major active transport system responsible for the electrochemical potential in mammalian cells, can therefore be an indication of the effect that a chemical may have on the viability of the cell membrane and possibly the whole cell. - [Read Hamster Ovary Cell NA+/K+ -ATPase Test]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols

This protocol describes assaying kinase activity of a putative kinase using Histone H1 as the substrate. Histone H1 is the canonical kinase substrate in this type of assay. Phosphorylation of Histone H1 is assessed by SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. Includes information: H1 Kinase Assay on Individual Xenopus Oocytes; H1 Kinase Assay on Xenopus Egg Extract Samples; H1 Kinase Assay on Tissue Culture Cells; Helpful protocol hints. - [Read Histone H1 Kinase Activity Assay]

Category: Pharmacology and Toxicology Protocols: Enzyme Assays Protocols

Homogeneous caspase-3/7 assay. Includes: Detection of Caspase-3/7 Activity in Cell Culture;  Detection of Caspase-3 or -7 Activity in Purified Caspase Preparations; Positive and Negative Cell Culture Controls. - [Read Homogeneous Caspase 3-7 Assay Protocol]

Category: Pharmacology and Toxicology Protocols: Cytotoxicity Protocols: Cell Specific Cytotoxicity Assays Protocols

This method measures the leakage of DNA and lactate dehydrogenase from lymphocytes into the surrounding medium as an indicator of cytotoxicity.  This method also includes an assay of intracellular (mitochondrial) diaphorase as a measure of cellular activity (MTT assay). - [Read Human Lymphocyte Cytotoxicity Assay Protocol]

Category: Immunohistochemistry Protocols: Antibody Staining Protocols

There are several strategies to visualize the antibody. For transmitted light microscopy, color development substrates for enzymes are often used. The antibody can be directly labeled with the enzyme. However, such a covalent link between an antibody and an enzyme might result in a loss of both enzyme and antibody activity. For these reasons several multistep staining procedures have been developed, where intermediate link antibodies are used. In this protocol use the Vectastain ABC-kit. - [Read Immunocytochemistry in Free-Floating Sections Protocol]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Protein Kinase Protocols

Immunoprecipitation / Kinase Assay Protocol. Upstate. Protocol applicable only to kinases whose activity is not altered by cell lysis or immunoprecipitation procedures, and do not require soluble cofactors for activity. - [Read Immunoprecipitation / Kinase Assay]

Category: Plant Biology Protocols: Plant Genetics Protocols

To accurately predict the activity of a transgene it is critical to understand its location and dynamics in the 3-D interphase nucleus. Developed in situ methods to visualize transgenes (including single copy genes) & their transcripts during interphase from different tissues & plant species. These techniques reduce the time necessary for characterization of transgene integration by eliminating the need for time-consuming segregation analysis and extend characterization to the interphase nucleus - [Read In Situ Methods to Localize Transgenes and Transcripts in Interphase Nuclei]

Category: Cytogenetics Protocols: In Situ Hybridization Protocols

In situ methods to visualize transgenes (including single copy genes) and their transcripts during interphase from different tissues and plant species. These techniques reduce the time necessary for characterization of transgene integration by eliminating the need for time-consuming segregation analysis, and extend characterization to the interphase nucleus, thus increasing the likelihood of accurate prediction of transgene activity. - [Read In Situ Methods to Localize Transgenes and Transcripts in Interphase Nuclei]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: MAPK Protocols

Protocol describes an in vitro assay to detect MAP kinase activity using PC12 cells. - [Read In Vitro MAP Kinase Assay]

Category: Microscopy Protocols: In Vivo Imaging Protocols

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a established quantitative and noninvasive imaging modality. With the PET reporter gene (PRG)/PET reporter probe (PRP) system, based on a mutant form of herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-sr39tk), the PET signal is directly proportional to the enzymatic activity of sr39TK9-14. In this protocol, we describe in detail a method for reporter gene labeling of islets and quantitative scanning using a reporter probe. - [Read In Vivo Functional Real-Time Imaging of Transplanted Islets Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols

Protocol describes how to assay for kinase activity within a polyacrylamide gel, rather than in solution. The advantages to an in-gel assay are that an apparent molecular weight can be assigned to the kinase activity and that multiple kinase activities can be distinguished. Includes protocol hints. - [Read In-Gel Kinase Assay]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: MAPK Protocols

Protocol describing an in vitro assay on the detection of Kinase activity for Jnk-1/IRS proteins. - [Read In-Vitro Kinase Assay for Jnk-1/IRS Proteins]

Category: Immunology: T Cell Protocols

Describes generating CTL against some commonly used target antigens. Two methods for the quantitation of CTL activity are described based on the two pathways used bt CTL to kill target cells. In one pathway, they release lytic granules containing perforin and granzymes, leading to apoptosis and target cell lysis. In a second pathway, they trigger apoptosis via Fas/Fas ligand interactions. - [Read Induction and Measurement of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Activity Protocol]

Category: Microinjection Protocols: Microinjection of Proteins Protocols

Activation and inactivation of proteins using photoactivation of caged peptides or proteins offer insights into cellular dynamics not achievable using genetic means. The ability to selectively alter the activity of a specific protein at a defined time and location inside a cell allows the correlation of changes in protein activity and cellular behavior. A caged compound, peptide, or protein is prepared by covalently linking it to a photolabile, protecting group. - [Read Introduction of Caged Peptide/Protein into Cells Using Microinjection Protocol]

Category: Antibody Protocols: Antibody Labeling Protocols

This method for tagging monoclonal antibodies involves growing hybridomas in the presence of radioactive amino acids. This protocol can be particularly useful when conventional labeling techniques cause the antibody to lose activity. The labeled antibodies that result are essentially identical to the unlabeled antibodies. - [Read Labeling Monoclonal Antibodies by Biosynthesis Protocol]

Category: Gene Delivery Protocols: DNA Nanoparticles Protocols

Lipoplex (cationic liposome-DNA complex) is formed via electrostatic interaction of anionic nucleic acids with cationic liposomes. A thin film of lipids is dried on the bottom of a glass tube and rehydrated in an aqueous solution. The resulting liposome suspension is passed through polycarbonate filters of desired pore size. This protocol also describes the preparation, physical properties, and biological activity of liposome-polycation-DNA (LPD) nanoparticles. - [Read Lipoplex and LPD Nanoparticles for In Vivo Gene Delivery Protocol]

Category: DNA Protein Interactions Protocols: Dnase Footprinting Assay Protocols

Dnase I is used to fragment a radiolabeled target DNA in the presence and absence of a nuclear extract.  A "footprint" is generated when a protein binds to the target and protects a specific segment of DNA from the nucleolytic activity of Dnase I. By comparing the electrophoretic mobility of the Dnase I cleavage products to those of a sequence ladder derived from the same DNA fragment, the position(s) of the DNA sequences recognized by DNA-binding proteins can be determined. - [Read Mapping Protein-binding Sites on DNA by Dnase I Footprinting Protocol]

Category: Fungi Protocols: Aspergillus Protocols

Gliotoxin is a metabolite of Aspergillus fumigatus that exhibits immunosuppressive activity against certain cells of the immune system. Secretion of gliotoxin during infection has been suggested as being a factor in the pathogenesis of aspergillosis. Gliotoxin secretion can be assayed in a number of ways by thin layer chromatography (TLC) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or bioassay using the effect of gliotoxin on human cells1. - [Read Method for Assaying Gliotoxin Production in Aspergillus fumigatus Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Insect Cell Culture Protocols

Remove medium from culture container, rinse with PBS, expose cells to trypsin, incubate, stop trypsin activity by adding serum containing medium, dissociate cells, dilute and return to incubator. - [Read Passage of Adherent Cell Lines (subculture).]

Category: Plant Biology Protocols: Photosynthesis and Respiration Protocols

The physiological reactions of mitochondria and chloroplasts can be reduced to a series of electron transfers, catalyzed by specific enzymes found within the organelles. Thus, we can study the component processes of photosynthesis and respiration by isolating the organelles and measuring specific enzyme activity associated with that organelle. - [Read Photosynthesis and Respiration - Introduction]

Category: Protein Protocols: Protein Purification and Identification

Protein Purification: Assays, Specific Activity, Initial Fractionation. Blaber Lecture. - [Read Protein Purification: Assays, Specific Activity, Initial Fractionation]

Category: Transfection Protocols: Electroporation Sonoporation Protocols

Protocol describes a method for introducing gene constructs into mouse embryos by electroporation. Gene constructs can be quickly tested for tissue-specific transcriptional activity or can be used to overexpress gene products. - [Read Protocol Electroporation]

Category: Chromatography Protocols: Immunoaffinity Chromatography Protocols

Immunoaffinity purification of antibodies is used to purify antigen-specific antibodies from a preparation of polyclonal antibodies.  Such purification is commonly needed in the production of antipeptide antibodies, where it is used to concentrate the desired antibodies and separate them from those raised against carrier proteins.  It is also used for the more general purpose of removing unwanted, nonspecific binding activity from polyclonal antibody preparations. - [Read Purification of Antibodies on an Antigen Column Protocol]

Category: Plant Biology Protocols: Plant Proteins, Peptides and Antigens

The activity of ß-glucuronidase (GUS) can be accurately determined in intact plant tissue using 4-methylumbelliferyl ß-D-glucuronide (4-MUG) as a substrate. Upon hydrolysis by GUS, the fluorochrome 4-methyl umbelliferone (4-MU) is produced. This method is based on the permeability of both 4-MUG and 4-MU through plant tissue. It consists of incubation of the tissue with the reagent and quantification of the fluorescence emitted by 4-MU in the solution. GUS activity in each sample can be... - [Read Quantitative GUS Activity Assay in Intact Plant Tissue Protocol]