The starting material for de novo isolation of stem cell lines can be either normal 3.5-days post coitum (dpc) expanded blastocysts or "delayed" blastocysts. Delayed blastocysts are usually collected 4-6 days after ovariectomy. For both groups of blastocysts, tissue culture procedures are similar. The only difference is the timing of the first disaggregation, because delayed blastocysts will initially grow more slowly. - [Read De Novo Isolation of Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Lines from Blastocysts Protocol]
Protocol exploits differences in electrophoretic mobility through a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel between a rapidly migrating target DNA and a more slowly migrating DNA-protein complex. - [Read Gel Retardation Assays for DNA-binding Proteins Protocol]
Lowry Protein Assay. The Lowry procedure is one of the most venerable and widely-used protein assays, being first described in 1951 [Lowry et al., J. Biol. Chem. 193: 265-275 (1951)]. Under alkaline conditions, copper complexes with protein. When folin phenol reagent (phospho-molybdic-phosphotungstic reagent) is added, the Folin-phenol reagent binds to the protein. Bound reagent is slowly reduced and changes color from yellow to blue. P.J. Hansen, Dept. of Animal Sciences, University of Florida. - [Read Lowry Protein Assay]
Great peptide storage information. Lerner. Peptides are provided as lyophilized product that should be stored as dry powder at -20°C to -70°C in a desiccator, if possible. After lyophilization, peptides retain significant amounts of water. Peptides are slowly degraded particularly the cysteine-containing peptides are oxidized over time at -20°C. - [Read Peptide Storage Information]