Assay measures cell viability. It is a two-color fluorescence assay that simultaneously determines Live cell number and Dead cell number. This protocol is designed for use with the GEMINI XS Microplate Spectrofluorometer, a multi-well plate scanner with dual excitation/emission capabilities, but the assay is also adaptable for flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Includes: Cell Culture; Preparation for the Assay; Live/Dead Assay; Reading the Plate; Data Analysis; Alternative protocol. - [Read Live/Dead Assay for Cell Viability Protoco]
Live-cell imaging techniques provide a critical insight into the fundamental nature of cellular and tissue function, especially due to the rapid advances that are currently being witnessed in fluorescent protein and synthetic fluorophore technology. Because of these advances, live-cell imaging has become a requisite analytical tool in most cell biology laboratories. - [Read Maintaining Live Cells on the Microscope Stage]
In preparation for FLIM-FRET analysis, the appropriate donor and acceptor components must be introduced into live or fixed cells. The method of introduction depends on the nature of the components and the state of the cells. For example, plasmid DNAs encoding a protein of interest fused to a variant of GFP may be introduced into live cells by transfection or microinjection, whereas labeled antibodies are delivered by microinjection. - [Read Probing Protein Interactions Using GFP and FRET Protocol]
Protocol describes the acquisition of confocal fluorescent and
bright field images of live cells, expressing cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and/or yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), with a spinning disk confocal head on a Zeiss Axiovert 200 M
microscope. Protocol includes: Description of Microscope and Imaging Setup; Description of Acquisition Parameters; Image Processing; Movie Processing. - [Read Protocol for Live Cell Spinning Disk Confocal Fluorescence Imaging of Cells on a Zeiss]
To image early cleavages and chromatin dynamics, it is convenient to use histone H2B fused to GFP or lamin::GFP. Time-lapse movies can be obtained using conventional confocal microscope systems and their included software. Early embryos dissected from transgenic hermaphrodites are placed with egg salts on agar pads. Chromatin dynamics can be followed easily, and wild-type embryonic cells can be compared with mutants or RNAi-treated embryos. - [Read Protocol Live Imaging of Caenorhabditis Elegans]
In the past two decades, there have been many revolutions in light microscopy techniques made possible by improvements in optics, detector technology, and computers. Furthermore, there is no indication that the rate of development of new equipment is slowing down. Here we attempt to provide an overview of available options and important considerations applicable to imaging Drosophila cells and tissues. - [Read Selection of Appropriate Imaging Equipment and Methodology for Live Cell Imaging in Drosophila]