free Protocols

Category: Protein Protocols: Protein Ubiquitination Protocols

A specific endpoint assay for ubiquitin. Rose et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987. Simple endpoint assays for free ubiquitin (Ub) and for the Ub-activating enzyme are described. . - [Read A specific endpoint assay for ubiquitin.]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Insect Cell Culture Protocols

This protocol is designed to adapt High Five™ (BTI-Tn-4) cells to serum-free suspension culture in HyQ SFX-Insect in 5 passages. The entire adaptation process takes approximately two weeks and the resulting adapted cells have doubling times of 16 and 20 hours and minimal clumping in suspension culture. - [Read Adaptation of High Five™ Cells to HyQ© SFX Insect Medium]

Category: Primary Cell Isolation and Culture Protocols: Mammalian Cell Culture Protocols

There are many ways to adapt cell lines to serum-free media. Five methods are presented that are designed for adapting hybridomas to a protein-free medium. These protocols may require some modifications for your particular cell line and conditions. - [Read Adapting Cells to a Serum-Free Environment Protocol]

Category: Reporter Gene Assays: B-Galactosidase Assay Protocols

The assay for ß-galactosidase relies on the ability of the enzyme to catalyze the hydrolysis of ONPG (o-nitrophenyl-ß-D- galactopyranoside) to free o-nitrophenol, which absorbs light at 420 nm. In this protocol, extracts of cells transfected with a ß-galactosidase reporter plasmid are incubated with ONPG. - [Read Assay for ß-galactosidase in Extracts of Mammalian Cells]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]i, in cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells, using a 96-well plate format. This objective is accomplished by using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fluo-3, which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Intracellular Ion Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in cultured RAW 264.7 cells. This objective is accomplished with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fluo-3, which permeates cells as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. Fluorescence is measured over time with adherent cells that have been washed free of extracellular dye. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells for Ligand Screen Protocol]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Intracellular Ion Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]i, in cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells, using a 96- well plate format. This objective is accomplished by using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fluo-3, which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. Fluorescence for the adherent cells is measured over time by using a bottom read of a 96-well plate, with cells that have been washed. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells Loaded with Fluo-3 Protocol]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+], in cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells, using a 96-well plate format. This objective is accomplished by using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2, which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells Loaded with Fura-2 (with FLEXstation)]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Intracellular Ion Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]i , in cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells, using a 96- well plate format. This objective is accomplished by using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2, which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells Loaded with Fura-2 Protocol]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in mouse splenic B cells in the absence and presence of ligands for cell surface receptors. This objective is accomplished with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fluo-3, which permeates cells as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+ sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in Suspended B Cells]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

The following protocol is a method to measure concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in mouse splenic B cells in the presence of two ligands. Signalling Gateway - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in Suspended B Cells Dual Ligand PDF]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

Protocol for a method which assesses concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in mouse splenic B cells in the absence and presence of ligands for cell surface receptors. Signalling Gateway - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in Suspended B Cells PDF]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Intracellular Ion Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in mouse splenic B cells in the absence and presence of ligands for cell surface receptors. This objective is accomplished with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fluo-3, which permeates cells as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+- sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in Suspended B Cells Protocol]

Category: Immunology: B Cell Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in mouse splenic B cells in the absence and presence of ligands for cell surface receptors. This objective is accomplished with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, Fluo-3, which permeates cells as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+- sensitive acidic form. - [Read Assay of Intracellular Free Calcium in Suspended B Cells Protocol]

Category: Nucleic Acid Purification Protocols: RNA Isolation Protocols

Protocol for extraction and purification of total RNA using TRIzol OR TRI reagent. Includes: Homogenization for Cell Suspensions; Phase Separation; RNA Precipitation; RNA Wash;  Redissolving the RNA; Determination of RNA Concentration and Purity; Preparation of Rnase-free water. - [Read Extraction and Purification of Total RNA using TRIzol OR TRI Reagent Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Cell Fixing Protocols

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]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Cell Fixing Protocols

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. - [Read Fixing Suspension Cells with Paraformaldehyde Protocol]

Category: Primary Cell Isolation and Culture Protocols: Laser Capture Microdissection Protocols

After fixation, frozen sections are immunostained under RNase-free conditions using a rapid three-step streptavidin-biotin technique followed by dehydration. The immunostained sections are ready for LCM. Includes: Development of Immuno-LCM. - [Read Immuno-Laser Capture Microdissection 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: Cloning Protocols

Protocol for ligating plasmid and target DNAs in low-melting-temperature agarose. Ligation in low-melting-temperature agarose is much less efficient than ligation with purified DNA in free solution and requires a large amount of DNA ligase. The method is used chiefly for rapid subcloning of segments of DNA in dephosphorylated vectors and assembling recombinant constructs. - [Read Ligating Plasmid and Target DNAs in Low-melting-temperature Agarose Protocol]

Category: Microscopy Protocols: In Vivo Imaging Protocols

Caenorhabditis elegans, a small (adults are ~1 mm long), free-living soil nematode that feeds on bacteria, is an ideal organism for applying various live microscopy techniques. This protocol describes useful techniques for preparing C. elegans for live microscopic analysis. Details of sample preparation depend on the developmental stage of the worm to be studied. - [Read Live Imaging of Caenorhabditis elegans: Preparation of Samples]

Category: Microscopy Protocols: Live-Cell Imaging Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]i, for cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells in an 8-well coverglass. This objective is accomplished using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2 acetoxymethyl (AM), which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. Fluorescence for the adherent cells is measured over time with cells that have been washed free of extracellular dye. - [Read Live Single-Cell Fura-2 Measurements to Determine the Intracellular Free Calcium]

Category: Signalling Signal Transduction Protocols: Calcium Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+], for cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells in an 8-well coverglass. This objective is accomplished using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2 acetoxymethyl (AM), which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. - [Read Live Single-Cell Fura-2 Measurements to Determine the Intracellular Free Calcium in RAW 264.7 Cells]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Intracellular Ion Measurement Protocols

This protocol describes a method to assess concentrations of free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]i, for cultured adherent RAW 264.7 cells in an 8-well coverglass. This objective is accomplished using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2 acetoxymethyl (AM), which permeates cell membranes as an ester and is hydrolyzed in the cell to its Ca2+-sensitive acidic form. - [Read Live Single-Cell Fura-2 Measurements to Determine the Intracellular Free Calcium Protocol]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Cell Culture Growth Media: Mammalian Cell Culture Growth Media Protocols

The culture medium is an essential component of the in vitro environment and must be selected or designed with care. This protocol provides guidelines for design of serum-containing and serum-free media, selective and specialty media, and media for growth under special conditions such as soft-agar growth. - [Read Media for Culture of Mammalian Cells Protocol]