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Past Issue in 2018
Volume: 8, Issue: 19
Biochemistry
Filter Retardation Assay for Detecting and Quantifying Polyglutamine Aggregates Using Caenorhabditis elegans Lysates
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases and is associated with impaired protein homeostasis. This imbalance is caused by the loss of the protein’s native conformation, which ultimately results in its aggregation or abnormal localization within the cell. Using a C. elegans model of polyglutamine diseases, we describe in detail the filter retardation assay, a method that captures protein aggregates in a cellulose acetate membrane and allows its detection and quantification by immunoblotting.
A Method for SUMO Modification of Proteins in vitro
The Small Ubiquitin-related Modifier (SUMO) is a protein that is post-translationally added to and reversibly removed from other proteins in eukaryotic cells. SUMO and enzymes of the SUMO pathway are well conserved from yeast to humans and SUMO modification regulates a variety of essential cellular processes including transcription, chromatin remodeling, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle progression. One of the challenges in studying SUMO modification in vivo is the relatively low steady-state level of a SUMO-modified protein due in part to the activity of SUMO deconjugating enzymes known as SUMO Isopeptidases or SENPs. Fortunately, the use of recombinant SUMO enzymes makes it possible to study SUMO modification in vitro. Here, we describe a sensitive method for detecting SUMO modification of target human proteins using an in vitro transcription and translation system derived from rabbit reticulocyte and radiolabeled amino acids.
Preparation of Sequencing RNA Libraries through Chemical Cross-linking Coupled to Affinity Purification (cCLAP) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Ribonucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) are complexes consisting of mRNAs and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) which control mRNA transcription localization, turnover, and translation. Some mRNAs within the mRNPs have been shown to undergo degradation or storage. Those transcripts can lack general mRNA elements, like the poly(A) tail or 5’ cap structure, which prevent their identification through the application of widely-used approaches like oligo(dT) purification. Here, we describe a modified cross-linking affinity purification protocol (cCLAP) based on existing cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) methods to isolate mRNAs which could be deadenylated, decapped and/or partially degraded in mRNPs, opening the possibility to detect different types of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Once isolated, the RNAs are subjected to adapter ligation and subsequently proceeded to Next-generation sequencing (NGS). Due to the fast and efficient cross-linking and quenching steps, this protocol is also suitable for transiently induced mRNP granules. Examples include processing bodies (PBs) or stress granules (SGs) triggered by extrinsic stressors. Its reproducibility and broad applications make this protocol a useful and powerful tool to study the RNA compositions of specific RNPs.
Expression and Ni-NTA-Agarose Purification of Recombinant Hepatitis C Virus E2 Ectodomain Produced in a Baculovirus Expression System
In this protocol, we describe the production and purification of the ectodomain of the E2661 envelope protein (amino acids 384-661) of the Hepatitis C virus, which plays a fundamental role in the entry of the virus into the host cell. This protein has been expressed in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems but in small quantities or without native protein characteristics. In our case, we use the Baculovirus expression system in insect cells. E2661 is secreted into the extracellular medium and purified by means of affinity chromatography a Ni-NTA-column because the protein has a tag of six histidines at its amino terminal end. The purified protein possesses a native-like conformation and it is produced in large quantities, around 5-6 mg per liter.
Cell Biology
Maintenance of Schmidtea mediterranea in the Laboratory
In the last years, planarians have emerged as a unique model animal for studying regeneration and stem cells biology. Although their remarkable regenerative abilities are known for a long time, only recently the molecular tools to understand the biology of planarian stem cells and the fundamentals of their regenerative process have been established. This boost is due to the availability of a sequenced genome and the development of new technologies, such as interference RNA and next-generation sequencing, which facilitate studies of planarian regeneration at the molecular and genetic level. For these reasons, maintain a healthy and stable planarian population in the laboratory is essential to perform reproducible experiments. Here we detail the protocol used in our laboratory to maintain the planarian species Schmidtea mediterranea, the most widespread as a model.
Developmental Biology
Detection of Cell Death in Planarians
Planarians are freshwater flatworms, well known for their ability to regenerate a complete organism from any piece of their body. Furthermore, planarians are constantly growing and degrowing throughout their lives, maintaining a functional and proportioned body. These properties rely on the presence of a population of adult stem cells and on the tight control of their cell renewal, which is based on the balance between the proliferation of new cells and their differentiation, and the death of unnecessary cells. Due to the importance of these two processes in planarian biology, over the years, researchers have optimized molecular techniques to detect both cell proliferation and cell death in planarians. Here, we present the two main protocols currently used for cell death detection and quantification in the planarian field: Caspase-3 activity quantification and TUNEL assay.
Immunology
Isolation and Culture of Mouse Lung ILC2s
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Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILC2) play an important role in immune responses at barrier surfaces, notably in the lung during airway allergic inflammation or asthma. Several studies have described methods to isolate ILC2s from wild-type naive mice, most of them using cell sorting to obtain a pure population. Here, we describe in detail, a simple, efficient method for isolation and culture of lung mouse ILC2s. Lungs from Rag2-/- mice pretreated with IL-33 are collected and processed into single cell suspensions. Lymphoid cells are then recovered by density gradient separation. Lin-CD45+ cells are selected by depletion of lineage positive cells followed by positive selection of CD45+ cells. Culture of the isolated cells for several days results in a highly purified ILC2 population expressing typical cell surface markers (CD90.2, Sca1, CD25, CD127, and IL-33R). These cells can be expanded in culture for up to 10 days and used for diverse ex vivo assays or in vivo adoptive transfer experiments.
Microbiology
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ssDNA Recombineering in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Corynebacterium glutamicum is a versatile workhorse for industrial bioproduction of many kinds of chemicals and fuels, notably amino acids. Development of advanced genetic engineering tools is urgently demanded for systems metabolic engineering of C. glutamicum. Recently unveiled clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and their CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) are now revolutionizing genome editing. The CRISPR/Cas9 system from Streptococcus pyogenes that utilizes NGG as protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) and has good targeting specificity can be developed into a powerful tool for efficient and precise genome editing of C. glutamicum. In this protocol, we described the general procedure for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ssDNA recombineering in C. glutamicum. Small modifications can be introduced into the C. glutamicum chromosome with a high editing efficiency up to 90%.
Molecular Biology
Fluorescence Titrations to Determine the Binding Affinity of Cyclic Nucleotides to SthK Ion Channels
The cyclic-nucleotide modulated ion channel family includes cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) and hyperpolarization-activated and cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) channels, which play essential roles in visual and olfactory signaling and the heart pacemaking activity. Functionally, these channels have been extensively characterized by electrophysiological techniques from protein heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cells. On the other hand, expression and purification of these proteins for biophysical and structural analyses in vitro is problematic and expensive and, accordingly, only limited information on the purified channels is available in the literature. Here we describe a protocol for binding studies of fluorescently labeled cyclic nucleotides to a homologue of eukaryotic CNG channels. Furthermore, we describe how to directly probe binding of unlabeled cyclic nucleotides in a competition assay. The use of fluorescence as a sensitive probe for ligand binding reduces the amount of protein needed and enables fast and easy measurements using standard laboratory equipment.
Neuroscience
Isolation of Chromatin-bound Proteins from Subcellular Fractions for Biochemical Analysis
Shuttling of proteins between different cellular compartments controls their proteostasis and can contribute in some cases to regulate their activity. Biochemical analysis of chromatin-bound proteins, such as transcription factors, is often difficult because of their low yield and due to the interference from nucleic acids. This protocol describes a method to efficiently fractionate cells combined with a mechanical (i.e., sonication) or an enzymatic treatment (i.e., benzonase) that facilitates analysis of chromatin-bound protein extracts by Western blot analysis or by protein pull-down assays. This approach can be valuable to enrich a particular protein within a particular subcellular fraction either to study specific post-translational modification patterns or to identify specific protein-protein interactions.
Measurement of Dopamine Using Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry in Rodent Brain Slices
Fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is an electrochemical technique that allows sub-second detection of oxidizable chemical species, including monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This technique has been used to record the physiological dynamics of these neurotransmitters in brain tissue, including their rates of release and reuptake as well as the activity of neuromodulators that regulate such processes. This protocol will focus on the use of ex vivo FSCV for the detection of dopamine within the nucleus accumbens in slices obtained from rodents. We have included all necessary materials, reagents, recipes, procedures, and analyses in order to successfully perform this technique in the laboratory setting. Additionally, we have also included cautionary points that we believe will be helpful for those who are novices in the field.
Drosophila Endurance Training and Assessment of Its Effects on Systemic Adaptations
Exercise induces beneficial systemic adaptations that reduce the incidence of age-related diseases. However, the molecular pathways that elicit these adaptations are not well understood. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the exercise response can lead to widely beneficial therapies. Large populations, relatively short lifespan, and easily modifiable genetics make Drosophila a well-suited model system for complex, longitudinal studies. We have developed an enforced climbing apparatus for Drosophila, known as the Power Tower, for the study of systemic exercise adaptations. The Power Tower takes advantage of the fly’s natural instinct for negative geotaxis, an innate behavior to run upwards after being tapped to the bottom of their vial. Flies will continuously run either to the point of exhaustion or until the machine is turned off, whichever comes first. After 3 weeks of exercise, male Drosophila adapt to training with a number of conserved, easily quantifiable physiological improvements similar to those seen in mammalian models and humans. Here, we describe a useful endurance training protocol and a suite of post-training assessments that effectively quantify training effects.
Plant Science
Real-time PCR Analysis of PAMP-induced Marker Gene Expression in Nicotiana benthamiana
Perception of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) often triggers various innate immune responses in plants. The transcriptional changes of defense-related genes are often used as a marker to assay PAMP-triggered plant immune response. Here we described a protocol to monitor the relative expression level of marker genes in Nicotiana benthamiana upon treatment with PAMPs. The procedure includes leaf treatment using PAMPs, total RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, quantitative real-time PCR and data analysis. This protocol is applicable to monitor marker gene expression triggered by different PAMPs in N. benthamiana.
An Image Analysis Pipeline to Quantify Emerging Cracks in Materials or Adhesion Defects in Living Tissues
Microcracks in materials reflect their mechanical properties. The quantification of the number or orientation of such cracks is thus essential in many fields, including engineering and geology. In biology, cracks in soft tissues can reflect adhesion defects, and the analysis of their pattern can help to deduce the magnitude and orientation of tensions in organs and tissues. Here, we describe a semi-automatic method amenable to analyze cell separations occurring in the epidermis of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. Our protocol is applicable to any image exhibiting small cracks, and thus also adapted to the analysis of emerging cracks in animal tissues and materials.