Protocol is based on methods for the resolution of GLUT4
containing vesicles and the identification of phosphoinositide kinase containing vesicles in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. They may have a wider application to any low-medium density membranes. Protocol incorporates the strategy of using a low density microsome fraction as the gradient input, commonly
used in GLUT 4 studies that may have a wider application to other investigations. - [Read Analysis of Membrane Trafficking and Intracellular Signaling in Self-Generated Iodixanol Gradients]
This protocol describes a stepwise procedure to prepare nucleic acids encapsulated in a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-shielded nanolipoparticle (NLP) that contain a bioresponsive lipid and ligand. This process provides several advantages for systemic gene delivery. The in vivo circulation time is extended. Also, low pH-sensitive lipids enhance DNA unpacking and endosomal escape. Finally, ligands inserted into the NLP surface can target gene delivery to specific tissues or cells in vivo. - [Read Bioresponsive Targeted Charge Neutral Lipid Vesicles for Systemic Gene Delivery Protocol]
Fractionation of (a) vacuolar and subvacuolar vesicles and (b) vacuole and cytoplasm-to-vacuole targeting (Cvt) vesicles from yeast spheroplasts in a pre-formed discontinuous iodixanol gradients. Protocol includes: Formation of yeast spheroplasts; Isolation and vesiculation of the vacuoles; Separation of the vacuolar and subvacuolar vesicles; Separation of vacuoles and Cvt vesicles from a yeast spheroplast lysate. - [Read Fractionation of Vacuolar and Subvacuolar vesicles and Vacuole and Cytoplasm-to-Vacuole Targeting]
The first part of the isolation procedure is a flotation through a continuous iodixanol gradient; this gradient is essentially a resolving gradient in which the caveolin-rich vesicles are concentrated in the top third of the gradient, while the predominantly caveolin-poor vesicles band in denser regions. A second discontinuous gradient is essentially a concentration gradient to band the caveolin-rich vesicles sharply at an interface. - [Read Purification of Caveolae Membranes from a Plasma Membrane Fraction of Cultured Cells and Tissues]
The cell-attached capacitance recording technique is a powerful technique that has been successfully used to resolve single vesicle fusion and fusion pore conductance. This technique, however, has not been applied to synapses because of the difficulty in accessing release sites. Here, we developed a technique to expose release sites in a large nerve terminal, the calyx of Held, which contains clear-core glutamatergic vesicles. - [Read The Cell Attached Capacitance Recording Technique]