invitrogen Protocols

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

Simple and universally applicable methods for staining fixed cells are presented, as are methods that utilize detergents and proteolytic treatment to permeabilize cells. Additionally, supravital cell staining with Hoechst 33342, which is primarily used for sorting live cells for subsequent culturing based on DNA-content differences, is also described. Also presented are methods for staining of cell nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissues, and deconvolution of DNA-content-frequency... - [Read Analysis of Cellular DNA Content by Flow Cytometry Protocol]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Flow Cytometry Data Analysis Protocols

Provides several approaches to flow cytometry data analysis. Frequency determinations based on analysis of single-parameter fluorescence histograms and dual-parameter contour plots are presented. Steps are described for calculating values for signal-to-noise ratios when logarithmic amplification is used for data collection. - [Read Analysis of Flow Cytometry Data Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Sterile Technique Protocols

This unit describes some of the ways that a laboratory can deal with the constant threat of microbial contamination in cell cultures. A protocol on aseptic technique is described first. This catch-all term universally appears in any set of instructions pertaining to procedures in which noncontaminating conditions must be maintained. - [Read Aseptic Technique for Cell Culture Protocol]

Category: Immunology: B Cell Protocols

Describes the antigenic stimulation of in vitro antibody production by B cells and the subsequent measurement of secreted antibodies. The first protocol is a generalized system for inducing in vitro antibody production and can accommodate various types of antigens under study. Secreted antibodies can then be measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or other soluble-antibody detection systems. - [Read Assays for B Lymphocyte Function Protocols]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Cell Culture Contamination Prevention and Removal Protocols

This unit describes how to detect and recognize bacterial, fungal, or mycoplasma contamination and how to verify the presence of mycoplasma. Strategies are described for dealing with culture contamination, if necessary. - [Read Assessing and Controlling Microbial Contamination in Cell Cultures Protocol]

Category: Cell Culture Protocols: Sterile Technique Protocols

Cultured mammalian cells are used extensively in cell biology studies; it requires a number of special skills in order to be able to preserve the structure, function, behavior and biology of the cells. This unit describes the basic skills required to maintain and preserve cell cultures: aseptic technique, medium characteristics, passaging, freezing and storage, recovering frozen stocks, and counting viable cells. - [Read Basic Techniques for Mammalian Cell Tissue Culture Protocol]

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

Cultured mammalian cells are used extensively in cell biology studies; it requires a number of special skills in order to be able to preserve the structure, function, behavior and biology of the cells. This unit describes the basic skills required to maintain and preserve cell cultures: aseptic technique, medium characteristics, passaging, freezing and storage, recovering frozen stocks, and counting viable cells. - [Read Basic Techniques for Mammalian Cell Tissue Culture Protocol]

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

Most media cannot be autoclaved. With description. Invitrogen - [Read Can you autoclave liquid Media? FAQ]

Category: Molecular Imaging: Electron Microscopy Protocols

Details of this protocol, Cryo-Immunogold Electron Microscopy, are located on a web site other than Protocols. Cryo-Immunogold Electron Microscopy Protocol - [Read Cryo-Immunogold Electron Microscopy Protocol]

Category: Immunology: Immunoprecipitation Protocols: Immunoprecipitation of Radiolabeled Cells Protocols

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]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Cell Cycle Analysis Protocols

Describes assays used to determine the distribution of a population of cells to the different stages of the cell cycle as analyzed by flow cytometry. Staining the DNA with different fluorescent dyes, propidium iodide or DAPI, is one of the most direct ways of staging the cells based on DNA content. - [Read Determining Cell Cycle Stages by Flow Cytometry Protocol]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Cell Transfection Protocol

What dose of Geneticin (G418) should I use for stable cell line selection? Invitrogen FAQs. - [Read Dose of G418 to be used for selection]

Category: Immunology: B Cell Protocols

B cell activation can be quantitated indirectly by assaying antibody production or directly by measuring cellular changes that occur immediately after exposure to an activation signal. Provides methods for the latter (direct) approach--namely, methods for quantifying early parameters of B cell activation such as increases in intracellular ionized calcium concentration [Ca2+]I, cell size, and MHC class II-antigen expression. - [Read Early Events in B Lymphocyte Activation Protocol]

Category: PCR Protocols: PCR Optimization

Method for amplifying DNA enzymatically by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including procedures to quickly determine conditions for successful amplification of the sequence and primer sets of interest, and to optimize for specificity, sensitivity, and yield.  The first step of PCR simply entails mixing template DNA, two appropriate oligonucleotide primers, Taq or other thermostable DNA polymerases, deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), and a buffer. - [Read Enzymatic Amplification of DNA by PCR: Standard Procedures and Optimization Protocol]

Category: Immunology: Immunoprecipitation Protocols

Protocols for detection and purification of proteins tagged with a particular epitope, the FLAG tag, although the same general approach can be applied to other epitope tags. The protocols employ the anti-FLAG M2 antibody to detect and purify FLAG-tagged proteins. The methods presented are immunoprecipitation of FLAG fusion proteins from cells using an anti-FLAG M2 affinity gel, detection of FLAG fusion proteins by western blotting, and purification of FLAG fusion proteins by anti-FLAG. - [Read Epitope Tagging of Recombinant Proteins Protocol]

Category: Cell Biology and Cell Culture: Flow Cytometry Protocols: Apoptosis Cytometry Protocols

Common methods applicable to flow cytometry make it possible to: (1) identify and quantify dead or dying cells, (2) reveal a mode of cell death (apoptosis or necrosis), and (3) study mechanisms involved in cell death. Gross changes in cell morphology and chromatin condensation, which occur during apoptosis, can be detected by analysis with laser light beam scattering. - [Read Flow Cytometry of Apoptosis Protocol]

Category: Cytogenetics Protocols: Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization FISH Protocol

Method assesses cellular mRNA transcripts in tissue sections and cell cultures using unique short anti-sense primers directed against sequences in particular protein(s). The unlabeled synthetic cDNA oligonucleotide primers are extended complementary to a sense mRNA transcript using reverse transcriptase and labeled through incorporation of a fluorescent-labeled dUTP nucleotide base. This procedure provides rapid detection of low abundance mRNA messages that can be related to other cellular.... - [Read Fluorescent In Situ Transcription in Cells and Tissues Protocol]

Category: Immunology: Mononuclear Cell Isolation Protocols: B Lymphocyte Isolation Protocols

Protocol describes the purification of mouse T cells, B cells, and T cell subsets using magnetic bead separation. Isolation of cell subsets using magnetic beads is quick, simple, and reliable and can result in high yields of very pure cells. - [Read Fractionation of T and B Cells Using Magnetic Beads Protocol]

Category: Immunology: Mononuclear Cell Isolation Protocols: T-Cell Isolation Protocols

Protocol describes the purification of mouse T cells, B cells, and T cell subsets using magnetic bead separation. Isolation of cell subsets using magnetic beads is quick, simple, and reliable and can result in high yields of very pure cells. - [Read Fractionation of T and B Cells Using Magnetic Beads Protocol]

Category: RNA Protocols: RT-PCR and cDNA synthesis: RT-PCR and cDNA Synthesis FAQ

How can I eliminate DNA contamination from my RNA prior to RT-PCR? Invitrogen - [Read How can I eliminate DNA contamination from my RNA prior to RT-PCR?]

Category: RNA Protocols: RT-PCR and cDNA synthesis: RT-PCR and cDNA Synthesis FAQ

How can I tell if my RT-PCR product is RNA specific? Invitrogen - [Read How can I tell if my RT-PCR product is RNA specific?]

Category: RNA Protocols: RT-PCR and cDNA synthesis: RT-PCR and cDNA Synthesis FAQ

How much of the first strand reaction should I add to the PCR? Invitrogen - [Read How much of the first strand reaction should I add to the PCR?]

Category: RNA Protocols: RT-PCR and cDNA synthesis: RT-PCR and cDNA Synthesis FAQ

How should I prime my cDNA? Invitrogen - [Read How should I prime my cDNA?]

Category: Immunology: Immunofluorescence Protocols: Immunofluorescence Staining Protocols

Provides a protocol for indirect immunofluorescence, which is a method that provides information about the locations of specific molecules and the structure of the cell. Antibody molecules for a specific target molecule are exposed to the cell or tissue being investigated. The binding of these molecules is detected by incubating the sample with a secondary antibody specific for immunoglobulin molecules and conjugated to fluorophore. - [Read Immunofluorescence Staining Protocol]

Category: Immunohistochemistry Protocols

Describes two methods for using the immunoperoxidase reaction to localize antigens at the electron microscope level; one for adherent cultured cells and one for tissue sections. The reaction conditions are first optimized at the light microscope level and then adapted for EM level observation. These methods allow for reliable detection of antigens at the cell surface, within the cell, and especially in membrane bounded organelles. - [Read Immunoperoxidase Methods for Localization of Antigens in Cultured Cells and Tissues]