LCM isolates specific cells or tissues from samples mounted on microscope slides. The samples are viewed through a thermoplastic film that is attached to a microcentrifuge tube lid. Localized heat, caused by the application of a laser pulse, fuses the membrane to the cells of interest, which can then be harvested for further analysis. RNA and proteins can be purified from the isolated cells, allowing detailed analysis of gene expression. This protocol is divided into three stages. - [Read (LCM): Preparation and Sectioning of Frozen Tissue Blocks and Purification of RNA from Isolated Cel]
New RACE, a variation of RNA ligase-mediated-RACE (RLM-RACE) (Liu and Gorovsky 1993) departs from classic RACE (see 5'-End cDNA Amplification Using Classic RACE) in that an "anchor" primer is attached to the 5'-end of the mRNA before the reverse transcription step; hence the anchor sequence becomes incorporated into the first-strand cDNA if, and only if, the reverse transcription proceeds through the entire length of the mRNA of interest. - [Read 5'-End cDNA Amplification Using New RACE Protocol]
This stage achieves four goals: polishing the ends of double-stranded DNA, ligation of synthetic linkers or adaptors, digestion of the attached linkers to create cohesive termini, and preparing the cDNA for cloning. - [Read Attachment of Linkers or Adaptors for Construction of cDNA Libraries]
Organic solvents such as alcohols and acetone remove lipids and dehydrate cells, precipitating the proteins on the cellular architecture. Be aware that different antigens may be affected differently by the various solvents. If no previous data are available for your antigen, start with the 50/50 mixture. For tissue culture dishes, concentrations of acetone higher than 50% will destroy the integrity of the plastic. - [Read Fixing Attached Cells in Organic Solvents Protocol]
Treating cells with paraformaldehyde leads to the establishment of chemical cross-links between free amino groups. When the cross-links join different molecules, a latticework of interactions occurs that holds the overall architecture of the cell together. Commercial formaldehyde solutions are not recommended, because they lack the advantages of using a variable-length polymer, and the cells will simultaneously be fixed with the alcohol (usually methanol). - [Read Fixing Attached Cells in Paraformaldehyde Protocol]
Indirect method measuring immunofluorescence coupled to second antibody. Best for membrane antigens in addition to intra- and extracellular antigens, may be applied to frozen tissue sections, to cells in suspension, and to cells attached to glass slides or coverslips. Tadashi Tai~Head, Department of Tumor Immunology, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan - [Read Immunohistochemistry using Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies]
LCM utilizes an infrared laser integrated into a standard microscope. A transparent cap is attached to a thermoplastic transparent membrane which lies directly on the surface of a routinely prepared tissue section on a glass slide. The investigator examines the tissue section microscopically and activates the laser when the desired cells underlie the target. This in turn activates the membrane with subsequent binding and procurement of the cells of interest. - [Read Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM)]
Microneedles attached to micromanipulators are used in the dissection of tetrads, isolation of zygotes from populations of mating haploid cells, and manipulation of individual cells. - [Read Making a Tetrad Dissection Needle Protocol]
Insect cell cultures are now commonly used in insect physiology, developmental biology, pathology, and molecular biology. As the field has advanced from methods development to a standard procedure, so has the diversity of scientists using the technique. This paper describes methods that are effective for maintaining various insect cell lines. The procedures are differentiated between loosely or non-attached cell strains, attached cell strains, and strongly adherent cell strains. - [Read Methods for Maintaining Insect Cell Cultures]
Protocol describes a method for synchronizing monolayer cells in mitosis using selective detachment from their substrate. During mitosis, cells become spherical, causing them to become more loosely attached to their substrate. The "rounded up" cells are selectively detached by tapping the culture flask, resulting in a population in which as many as 90-98% of the cells are in mitosis. The drug nocodazole is used to increase the percentage of cells undergoing mitosis before detachment is performed - [Read Synchronization of Mammalian Cell Cultures in Mitosis Using Selective Detachment Protocol]
This protocol describes a method for synchronizing monolayer cells in mitosis using selective detachment from their substrate. During mitosis, cells become more spherical, causing them to become more loosely attached to their substrate. The "rounded up" cells are selectively detached by tapping the culture flask, resulting in a population in which as many as 90-98% of the cells are in mitosis. The drug nocodazole is used to increase the percentage of cells undergoing mitosis before detachment.. - [Read Synchronization of Mammalian Cell Cultures in Mitosis Using Selective Detachment Protocol]
The cell-attached capacitance recording technique is a powerful technique that has been successfully used to resolve single vesicle fusion and fusion pore conductance. This technique, however, has not been applied to synapses because of the difficulty in accessing release sites. Here, we developed a technique to expose release sites in a large nerve terminal, the calyx of Held, which contains clear-core glutamatergic vesicles. - [Read The Cell Attached Capacitance Recording Technique]
A protocol for the selection of Phage Antibodies using Immobilized Antigen. This method describes the selection of antibodies from bacteriophage antibody libraries that recognize a specific antigen. The phage display library of antibody-displaying phage particles is exposed to antigen attached to a solid substrate (Nunc Immuno™ tubes). The phage particles with affinity for antigen bind to the immobilized antigen and are selected from the library of phage expressing antibodies.