For analysis of metaphase chromosomes, any tissue containing dividing cells can be used: Root tips from young seedlings, from newly grown roots at the edge of plant pots or hydroponic culture are all suitable. Alternatively, flower buds, anthers, carpels or leaf or apical meristems can be used. Includes metaphase arresting reagents. - [Read Accumulation and Fixation of Plant Metaphase Chromosomes Protocol]
Arabidopsis transformation and selection on kanamycin agar, Preparation of plants for transformation, Agrobacterium, Dipping, Post-dip care, Agar plates, Tips. Adaptation of the short protocol described bySteve Clough and Andrew Bent, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. - [Read Arabidopsis transformation with pictures]
Adapted from Frommer et.al. Good protocol for bisulfite treatment of DNA. Includes tips on Methylation PCR for CpG methylation analysis. University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center - [Read Bisulfite Treatment of DNA for Methylation Analysis]
This protocol describes an easy method for calibrating micropipette tips that have been pulled in the laboratory. It is essential to estimate the internal diameter of the pulled micropipette tip when adjusting parameters for a new puller or new type of glass tubing. A tip diameter of ~0.3 µm is optimal for the microinjection of mammalian cells in culture (e.g., CHO, PtK1, and COS-7). A 10% increase in diameter increases the delivery rate by more than 30% and can cause cell damage. - [Read Calibration of Micropipette Tips Protocols]
Balancing the tubes in the rotor, labeling tubes, and other safety concerns for centrifuge safety. CR Scientific. - [Read Centrifuge Safety - Great Tips]
Cloning protocols/tips by Astrid. PCR and primer design, Extracting DNA from gel, Restriction of vector, Ligation, and Transformation. CalTech - [Read Cloning protocols/tips by Astrid PDF]
Cytostatic factor extract (CSF) preparation for spindle assembly protocol. Protocol includes tips such as: The quality of the eggs is essential for good CSF extracts. Always sacrifice quantity for quality when trying to make functional extracts. - [Read Cytostatic Factor (CSF) Extract Preparation for Spindle Assembly Protocol]
DNA digestion protocol & hints. Procedure and tips for restriction digestion. Doering laboratory, Department Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School. - [Read DNA digestion protocol & hints PDF]
Embryonic Stem Cell Protocol. tips and protocol for culture. Allan Bradley Lab, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas - [Read Embryonic Stem Cell Protocol]
Protocol describes methods for isolation of DNA from a strain of S. cerevisiae carrying a recombinant YAC. Because the linear YAC DNAs are sensitive to shearing forces, pipettes with wide-bore tips should be used to transfer DNAs. The method is suitable for preparing DNA that will be used for agarose gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, subcloning, genomic library construction, PCR, or other methods that do not require intact high-molecular-weight DNA. - [Read Growth of S. cerevisiae and Preparation of DNA Protocol]
Hints and precautions for the care, feeding and breeding of Neurospora. Includes: Crossing; Tips on handling ascospoes
General Laboratory Practices; Stockkeeping; Mutagenesis and enrichment; Tips for encouraging colonial growth; Solutions and media; Handling Heterokaryons. - [Read Hints and Precautions for the Care, Feeding and Breeding of Neurospora]
Tubulin is polymerized into microtubules by incubating tubulin at 37°C with GTP. A nucleation seed is added when the purpose is to assay microtubule elongation. Tubulin can also be polymerized for the purposes of recycling the tubulin or labeling the microtubules with fluorescently labeled tubulin. Based on the protocol by Timothy Mitchison of Harvard University.
This Microarray Protocol Preparation of Fluorescent DNA Probes from Human mRNA protocol describes the production of probes labeled with the fluorescent dyes, Cy3 and Cy5, following the synthesis of cDNA from human mRNA and the hybridization of the probes to DNA microarrays.
A single step RNA isolation protocol using Phenol Chloroform Extraction and Acid Guanidinium Thiocyanate. This RNA isolation method uses the fact that guanidinium thiocyanate can simultaneously lyse the cells and inactive cellular RNAses during the initial RNA isolation step allow a single step in the method.
Paraffin Embedding Protocol for molecular profiling. This Paraffin Embedding Protocol describes the processing of the tissues into sections following ethanol fixation. Molecular profiling (MP) is a technique that is used to visualize the global patterns of RNA expression or protein expression in various cell types and disease processes.
In Vitro Translated Xenopus Mos Kinase Assay Protocol. In response to progesterone, immature Xenopus oocytes mature to eggs that can be fertilized. The Mos protein kinase is essential for oocyte maturation, most likely due to its ability to activate the MAP kinase cascade. This MAP kinase cascade eventually leads to the activation of Cdc2/cyclin B and entry into M phase. In this protocol, tagged Mos kinase is translated in vitro, immunopurified, and used in a kinase assay.
A protocol for the selection of Phage Antibodies using Immobilized Antigen. This method describes the selection of antibodies from bacteriophage antibody libraries that recognize a specific antigen. The phage display library of antibody-displaying phage particles is exposed to antigen attached to a solid substrate (Nunc Immuno™ tubes). The phage particles with affinity for antigen bind to the immobilized antigen and are selected from the library of phage expressing antibodies.
Unlike spherical phage, such as T4 and λ, which have roughly equal weight ratios of protein to DNA, filamentous phage have about six times more protein than DNA; the protein therefore contributes substantially to the absorption spectrum.
3' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends RACE Using PCR Protocol. This protocol contains the steps for 3' end rapid amplification of mRNA by PCR. The first-strand cDNA is synthesized from total or poly(A+) RNA by priming from the poly-A tail of the mRNA using a oligo (dT) adaptor primer. The cDNA is then amplified via PCR using a gene-specific primer and an adaptor primer.
Histone H1 Kinase Activity Assay Protocol. This protocol describes assaying kinase activity of a putative kinase using Histone H1 as the substrate. Histone H1 is the canonical kinase substrate in this type of assay. Phosphorylation of Histone H1 is assessed by SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography.