Most powerful and convincing method to determine if a specific protein is phosphorylated in a physiologically relevant manner is to assay phosphorylation in situ. The procedure described involves incubating cultured cells (e.g., primary neuronal cultures or transfected cells) or tissue preparations (e.g., hippocampal slices) with [32P]orthophosphate, which is then taken up by the cells or tissues and incorporated into the γ-phosphate position of ATP. - [Read Detection of Protein Phosphorylation in Tissues and Cells Protocol]
Rat Neuron Nucleofector Kit- http://www.amaxa.com/fileadmin/groups/marketing/Downloads/Protocols/Primary_cells/amaxa_OP_Neuron_hippo_cortical_rat_DPG-1003.pdf
This protocol describes two transfection methods for expressing GFP-tagged actin in primary neurons. The lipid reagent DOTAP (Roche Diagnostics) method produces actin-GFP-expressing hippocampal neurons that survive well during long periods in culture. The calcium phosphate method can be used to transfect neurons that have already been growing on coverslips in vitro. Transfected cells suitable for imaging can be obtained in cultures up to 15 days in vitro. - [Read Transfecting Cultured Hippocampal Neurons with an Actin-GFP Plasmid]
Protocol describes two transfection methods for expressing GFP-tagged actin in primary neurons. The lipid reagent DOTAP (Roche Diagnostics) method produces actin-GFP-expressing hippocampal neurons that survive well during long periods in culture. - [Read Transfecting Cultured Hippocampal Neurons with an Actin-GFP Plasmid Protocol]
This protocol describes transfection of plasmid DNA into primary hippocampal neurons using DNA/calcium-phosphate (CaPO4) coprecipitation. The precise pH of the transfection medium and the incubation time of cells with the coprecipitate are critical for reproducible and efficient transfection. Once these parameters are optimized for a given plasmid, the method is easily adapted for transfection of other established cell lines. - [Read Transfection of Hippocampal Neurons with Plasmid DNA Using Calcium Phosphate Coprecipitation]