content Protocols

Category: PCR Protocols: PCR Cloning Protocols

Protocol is for directional blunt-end cloning of DNA fragments.  The target DNA is PCR-amplified, 3'-extensions are polished with Pfu DNA polymerase, and the amplicon is ligated to a blunt-ended plasmid DNA.  The products of the ligation reaction are used to transform competent Escherichia coli.  A restriction enzyme is added to the ligation reaction to relinearize any self-religating vector DNA. - [Read Directional Cloning of PCR Products Protocol]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Mouse Embryology Protocols

Protocol describes a method for disaggregating embryos and the ICM of blastocysts into individual cells. - [Read Disaggregating Cleavage-Stage Embryos and the Inner Cell Mass of Blastocysts into Individual Cells]

Category: RNAi Technology Protocols: RNAi Avian Embryos Protocols

Protocol describes how to dissect spinal cords of dsRNA-treated avian embryos for analysis of commissural axon guidance.  After fixation of the spinal cord with paraformaldehyde, commissural axons are stained with Fast-DiI. - [Read Dissection of Spinal Cords for Analysis of Axonal Pathfinding in dsRNA Treated Avian Embryos]

Category: Avian Bird Protocols

Protocol describes how to dissect spinal cords of dsRNA-treated avian embryos for analysis of commissural axon guidance. After fixation of the spinal cord with paraformaldehyde, commissural axons are stained with Fast-DiI. - [Read Dissection of Spinal Cords for Analysis of Axonal Pathfinding in dsRNA-Treated Avian Embryos]

Category: Chromatography Protocols: DNA RNA Affinity Chromatography

DNA Affinity Chromatography, DNA affinity chromatography can be a low-tech method using gravity flow at 4°C, a disposable chromatography column, and DNA affinity resin prepared in the laboratory (see Preparation of a DNA Affinity Column). Include 10-20% glycerol and 0.025-0.1% NP-40 in the column buffers to suppress losses due to nonspecific adsorption of protein to surfaces. Load the protein in a buffer that is compatible with binding of the protein to its target site. Keith Brocklehurst et al - [Read DNA Affinity Chromatography Using Gravity Flow - Subscription Required]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: DNA Staining Protocols for Flow Cytometry

Protocol for DNA content using Hoechst 33342 in unfixed cells. - [Read DNA Content using Hoechst 33342 in Unfixed Cells Protocol]

Category: Nucleic Acid Purification Protocols: DNA Isolation Protocols: Genomic DNA Isolation Protocols

In this protocol, the DNA-binding capacity of Wizard MagneSil particles is used to capture and release a consistent amount of DNA (100 ng) across a wide range of samples.  At the end of the procedure, the DNA is eluted into 100 µl Elution Buffer to give a final concentration of 1 ng/µl, relieving the need for postpurification DNA quantitation. - [Read DNA IQ Isolation of Genomic DNA from Stains and Buccal Swabs Protocol]

Category: Microinjection Protocols: Microinjection of DNA Protocols

For microinjection into cells, high-quality plasmid DNA is purified using standard procedures. The resulting preparation is then delivered into the microinjection needle by either a back-filling or a forward-filling approach. - [Read DNA Preparation and Needle Loading for Gene Delivery by Microinjection Protocol]

Category: Gene Delivery Protocols: Biolistics Protocols

In this protocol, gold or tungsten particles are coated with DNA and then shot from a gun into monolayers of mammalian cells. - [Read DNA Transfection by Biolistics Protocol]

Category: Transfection Protocols: Stable Transfection Protocols

Pulsed electrical fields can be used to introduce DNA into a wide variety of animal cells. Electroporation works well with cell lines that are refractive to other techniques, such as calcium phosphate-DNA coprecipitation. But, as with other transfection methods, the optimal conditions for electroporating DNA into untested cell lines must be determined experimentally. - [Read DNA Transfection by Electroporation]

Category: Transfection Protocols

Protocol should be viewed as a starting point for systematic optimization of transfection mediated by lipofecting agents. Once a positive signal has been obtained from a transfected plasmid carrying a standard reporter gene, optimal conditions for transfection can be established by systematic variation of parameters such as the initial cell density, the amount and purity of DNA, the media and serum, and the time of exposure of the cells to the cationic-lipid-DNA complex. - [Read DNA Transfection Mediated by Lipofection Protocol]

Category: Transfection Protocols

Polybrene and DMSO can be used to achieve stable transformation of several types of cells by plasmid DNA. The yield of transformants is up to 15-fold greater with Polybrene than with calcium phosphate-DNA coprecipitation. However, there is no difference between the two methods in the efficiency of transformation of cells by high-molecular-weight DNA. - [Read DNA Transfection Using Polybrene Protocol]

Category: Nucleic Acid Detection Protocols: Nucleic Acid Blotting Protocols

Protocol for dot and slot hybridization of purified RNA. Dot blotting of RNA is best carried out using purified preparations of RNA that are denatured with glyoxal or formaldehyde immediately before loading onto a nylon membrane through a vacuum manifold. - [Read Dot and Slot Hybridization of Purified RNA Protocol]

Category: DNA Protocols: DNA Sequencing Protocols

Protocol describes a simple procedure for purifying sequencing reactions using the MagneSil particles from Promega. - [Read Dye Terminator Cleanup for Automated DNA Sequencing Reactions Protocol]

Category: Reporter Gene Assays

Protocol describing ecdysone as regulator of inducible gene expression in mammalian cells. - [Read Ecdysone as Regulator of Inducible Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells]

Category: Mouse Protocols: Mouse Genetics Protocols

Protocol describes a method for electroporating DNA into ES cells, as well as selection methods. Pilot studies should be performed to optimize the conditions for each DNA construct. The selection method described here is one of the most complex. It involves targeting constructs in which the bacterial neomycin-resistance gene disrupts the coding sequence of the mouse gene. - [Read Electroporating DNA into Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells and Selection Methods Protocol]

Category: DNA Protocols: Genomic DNA Library Protocols

COS-7 cells are transfected with a library of plasmids containing the genomic DNA of interest. - [Read Electroporation of the Library into COS-7 Cells for Exon Trapping and Amplification]

Category: Plant Biology Protocols: Arabidopsis Genetics Protocols

EMS is used at concentrations that induce multiple point mutations in each plant, such that mutant alleles of a specific locus are found at a rate of ~1 in 2000-5000 M2 plants. This high rate of mutagenesis makes possible the screening of relatively few plants to find those with the phenotype of interest, a particular advantage if the screen is laborious or if only a small number of genes mutate to the required phenotype. - [Read EMS Mutagenesis of Arabidopsis Seed Protocol]

Category: Nucleic Acid Modification Protocols: Nucleic Acid Radiolabeling Protocols

Protocol for end labeling protruding 3' termini of double-stranded DNA with [{alpha}-32P]Cordycepin 5'-Triphosphate or [{alpha}-32P]dideoxyATP. - [Read End Labeling Protruding 3' Termini of Double-stranded DNA Protocol]

Category: Antibody Protocols: Epitope Mapping Antibody Protocols

The simplest way to determine whether two monoclonal antibodies bind to distinct sites on a protein antigen is to carry out a competition assay. The assay can be used with antibodies that bind both conformational and linear epitopes, and it is most useful in the analysis of monoclonal antibody specificity because polyclonal sera typically recognize multiple different epitopes. - [Read Epitope Mapping by Competition Assay Protocol]

Category: Antibody Protocols: Epitope Mapping Antibody Protocols

A set of overlapping synthetic peptides is synthesized, each corresponding to a small segment of the linear sequence of a protein antigen and arrayed on a solid phase. The panel of solid-phase peptides is then probed with a test antibody, and bound antibody is detected using an enzyme-labeled secondary antibody. This method is very rapid and can be extraordinarily successful. - [Read Epitope Mapping Using Synthetic Biotin-Labeled Peptides Protocol]

Category: Immunology

Protocol for Epstein-Barr Virus transformation of lymphoblasts. Protocol describes a method for the transformation of lymphoblasts by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Cells may be isolated from whole blood or taken from cryopreserved, non-immortalized stocks. - [Read Epstein-Barr Virus Transformation of Lymphoblasts Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols

Protocol describes a method for estimation of mammalian cell number in a defined volume of medium using a hemocytometer. Automated methods using cell-counting devices such as those produced by Coulter are desirable when large numbers of individual samples are to be counted. - [Read Estimation of Cell Number by Hemocytometry Counting Protocol]

Category: Yeast Protocols: Yeast Genetics Protocols

Protocol describes mutagenesis of yeast with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). It causes approximately 40-70% cell death in most haploid laboratory strains, a level of cell killing that is commonly used in mutant hunts with haploid strains. - [Read Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) Mutagenesis Protocol]

Category: DNA Protocols: Genomic DNA Library Protocols

Protocol describes how to construct and amplify a genomic DNA library in a plasmid vector (pSPL3) equipped to express cloned exons in transfected mammalian cells. - [Read Exon Trapping and Amplification for Construction of the Library Protocol]