The authors would like to thank F. I. Ataullakhanov for helping to design and manufacture reusable flow chambers, N. Dashkevich, N. Gudimchuk and A. Korbalev for providing images for figures, N. Gudimchuk and P. Zakharov for developing a protocol and providing reagents to prepare digoxigenin-labeled microtubule seeds, A. Potapenko for help with text editing and other members of Grishchuk lab for tips and discussions. This work was supported in part by NIH grant GM R01-098389 and a pilot grant from Pennsylvania Muscle Institute to E.L.G., who is a Kimmel Scholar, by RFBR grants 12-04-00111-a, 13-04-40190-H and 13-04-40188-H, Russian Academy of Sciences Presidium Grants (Mechanisms of the Molecular Systems Integration and Molecular and Molecular Cell Biology programs) to F. I. Ataullakhanov, NIH grant GM R01 GM033787 to J.R. McIntosh, and a Dmitry Zimin Dynasty Foundation postdoctoral fellowship to V.A.V.

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Many single molecule assays nowadays routinely use specially treated coverslips to drastically reduce nonspecific protein sticking. The procedure we describe here is a modification of the original protocol developed in Howard lab32, and we find that silanizing the coverslips is well worth the effort even with DIC-based bead assays, which do not use fluorescence. Chambers assembled with such coverslips show much cleaner surfaces, and the results obtained in the presence of soluble microtubule-binding protein ar...

Microtubules are highly conserved cytoskeletal structures that are important for cellular architecture, cell motility, cell division, and intracellular transport1. These dynamic polymers assemble from tubulin in the presence of GTP, and they switch spontaneously between growth and shortening2. Microtubules are very thin (only 25 nm in diameter) therefore special optical techniques to enhance contrast should be used to observe microtubules with a light microscope. Previous work with these polymers examined their dynamic behavior using differential interference contrast (DIC)3. This and similar studies in vitro revealed that under typical experimental conditions, the microtubules undergo catastrophe and switch to the depolymerization only rarely, once every 5-15 min (this frequency is for 7-15 mM soluble tubulin concentration examined at 28-32&#160;&#176;C)4. Different techniques have thus been proposed to induce microtubule depolymerization in a controlled manner. Microtubule shortening can be triggered by washing away soluble tubulin5,6, cutting microtubules with a laser beam7, or using segmented microtubules8, as described here. Previous work using segmented microtubules, as well as stochastically switching polymers, has found that small intracellular cargos, such as chromosomes, vesicles, and protein-coated beads, can move at the ends of the shortening microtubules9-13. This phenomenon is thought to have a direct implication for chromosome motions in mitotic cells, and the underlying mechanisms are currently under active investigation14-16.
Recently, fluorescent-based techniques, including the total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, have been employed to study motility with dynamic microtubule ends17-24. The advantage of this approach is that it allows examination of interactions between microtubules and microtubule-binding proteins in real time using proteins labeled with different fluorophores. Several protein complexes were found to move processively with elongating and/or shortening microtubule ends. They include the microtubule-associated proteins Dam110,12,18, Ska119, and XMAP21520, as well as kinesin motors Kif18A21,22, MCAK23 and CENP-E24. These proteins exhibit processive tip-tracking, which is fundamentally different from that of the classic tip-tracking proteins like EB125. Although EB1 molecules and the associated partners appear to remain stably associated with dynamic microtubule ends, the individual molecules remain bound to the microtubule tip for only ~0.8 sec, rapidly exchanging with the soluble pool26. In contrast, processive tip-trackers, like Dam1, travel with microtubule ends for many microns, and their association with microtubule tips can last for many seconds. The tip association time, as well as the resulting rate of tracking, depends strongly on the number of molecules that form the tip-tracking complex27. Larger protein ensembles are usually much better tip-trackers. For example, such complex assemblies as the isolated yeast kinetochores can remain coupled to microtubule ends for hours28. Some microtubule-binding proteins, e.g. Ndc80 kinetochore protein complex, have been found to be unable to track with microtubule ends at a single molecule level, yet Ndc80 is very efficient in coupling the motion of bead cargo19,29-31. Thus, to understand the mechanism of tip-tracking by different protein complexes, as well as their biological roles, it is important to examine tip-tracking as a function of the number of molecules in the tip-tracking complex, as well as to determine the ability of these complexes to exhibit collective motility on the surface of bead cargo.
Below we provide detailed protocols to prepare and conduct experiments with segmented microtubules (Figure 1A). First, the commercially available glass slides are modified to attach short polyethylene tubing (Protocol 1). The reusable microscopy flow chamber is then assembled from such a slide and the chemically or plasma-cleaned and silanized coverslip (protocol 2)32-34. The resulting chamber volume is only 20-25 &#956;l&#160;(or as small as 15 &#956;l, see Note 3 in Protocol 1), including the volume of the inlet tubing. Commercially available flow chambers can also be used, but their volume is usually larger, leading to the unnecessary waste of proteins. If a larger chamber is employed, the volume of all solutions in the protocols below should be scaled proportionally. Microtubule seeds are then prepared, for example using slowly hydrolysable GTP analog, GMPCPP (Guanosine-5&#8217;-[(&#945;,&#946;)-methyleno]triphosphate) (protocol 3, see also Hyman&#160;et al.35). The seeds are immobilized on a cleaned coverslip and the surface is subsequently blocked to prevent nonspecific absorption of other proteins32 (protocol 4 describes seeds immobilization using digoxigenin). The segmented microtubules can then be prepared using Protocol 5. The main rationale for this approach is that dynamic microtubule polymers, which form in the presence of GTP, can be stabilized temporarily by adding the short &#8220;caps&#8221; of stable tubulin segments, which contain GMPCPP. These caps also contain Rhodamine-labeled tubulin, so they can be removed simply by illuminating the field of view with a 530-550 nm laser or mercury arc lamp (Protocol 6)36. Fluorescence intensity of the tip-tracking signal can then be used to estimate the number of molecules that travel with the disassembling microtubule ends, taking into account the unevenness of the microscope field illumination (Protocol 7). A similar approach can be used to study interactions between depolymerizing microtubules and protein-coated beads, prepared as described in27 (Protocol 8). Some proteins will readily bind to the walls of segmented microtubules, but laser tweezers can also be used to hold the bead near the microtubule wall, thereby promoting its binding.

<table>
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Table 1: Microscopy and other equipment.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss 
			Nikon</td>
			<td>Axio Imager 2 
			Eclipse Ti</td>
			<td>other microscope models capable of DIC and epi-fluorescence-imaging can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objective</td>
			<td>Zeiss 
			Nikon</td>
			<td>420490-9900-000 
			CFI Apo 100x Oil 1.49</td>
			<td>100X, DIC, 1.3-1.49 NA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objective heater</td>
			<td>Bioptechs</td>
			<td>150803, 150819-19</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent filter cube</td>
			<td>Chroma</td>
			<td>49004 or 49008 
			41017 or 49020</td>
			<td>optimized for Rhodamine fluorescence&#160; 
			optimized for GFP fluorescence</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acquisition software</td>
			<td>freeware MicroManager 
			Molecular Devices</td>
			<td>not applicable 
			MetaMorph 7.5</td>
			<td>http://valelab.ucsf.edu/~MM/MMwiki/ 
			other software can be used to acquire images and for a particle tracking</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EMCCD camera</td>
			<td>Andor</td>
			<td>iXon3, DU-897E-cs0-#BV</td>
			<td>Highly sensitive EMCCD camera</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trapping laser</td>
			<td>IPG Photonics</td>
			<td>YLR-10-1064-LP</td>
			<td>1064 nm laser, 10 W</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence excitation lasers</td>
			<td>Coherent, Inc. 
			Coherent, Inc.</td>
			<td>Sapphire 488 LP 
			Sapphire 552 LP</td>
			<td>excitation of green fluorophores 
			excitation of red fluorophores</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plasma Cleaner</td>
			<td>Harrick Plasma</td>
			<td>PDC-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Commercial flow chambers</td>
			<td>Warner Instruments</td>
			<td>RC-20 or RC-30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Perfusion pump</td>
			<td>Cole Palmer 
			Harvard Apparatus</td>
			<td>Masterflex 77120-52 
			Pico Plus</td>
			<td>Both pumps provide the required rate of liquid flow but a peristaltic pump may pulse at very slow speed. The flow with a syringe pump is more consistent for a wide range of rates but this pump has inertia.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<table>
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Table 2: Microscopy chamber preparation.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Modified microscope slides for reusable chambers</td>
			<td>Precision Glassblowing of Colorado</td>
			<td>Custom order www.precisionglassblowing.com</td>
			<td>Sonic slots in slides using schematics in Figure 1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polyethylene tubing</td>
			<td>Intramedic</td>
			<td>427410</td>
			<td>I.D. 0.58 mm, O.D. 0.965 mm; use these tubes to connect assembled chamber to the pump and waste container</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polyethylene tubing</td>
			<td>Intramedic</td>
			<td>427400</td>
			<td>I.D. 0.28 mm, O.D. 0.61 mm; use these tubes to make the reusable chamber</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Regular microscope slides</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48312-003</td>
			<td>Other similar slides can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverslips</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48393-150, 48366-067</td>
			<td>Other similar coverslips can be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicon sealant</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>KIT, SILICON SEALANT 5 MIN CURE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Epoxy glue</td>
			<td>Loctite</td>
			<td>83082</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cyanoacrylate adhesive</td>
			<td>Scotch 3M</td>
			<td>AD114</td>
			<td>Or cyanoacrylate adhesive from other manufacturers</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<table>
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Table 3: Coverslips cleaning and coating.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Molecular Sieves, Grade 564</td>
			<td>Macron</td>
			<td>4490-04</td>
			<td width="200px"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverglass Staining Jar</td>
			<td>Ted Pella, Inc.</td>
			<td>21036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coverslip Ceramic Holder</td>
			<td>Thomas Scientific</td>
			<td>8542e40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PlusOne Repel Silane</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare Biosciences</td>
			<td>17-1332-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pluronic F-127</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P2443</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-digoxigenin AB</td>
			<td>Roche applied science</td>
			<td>11093274910</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<table>
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Table 4: Preparation of seeds and segmented microtubules.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tubulin</td>
			<td>purified from cow brains 
			Cytoskeleton, Inc</td>
			<td>&#160; 
			T238P</td>
			<td>For purification protocols see 49&#8211;51 
			Unlabeled porcine tubulin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Labeled tubulin</td>
			<td>Cytoskeleton, Inc 
			Invitrogen 
			Invitrogen</td>
			<td>TL590M 
			C1171 (Rhodamine) 
			A-2952 (Digoxigenin)</td>
			<td>Rhodamine-labeled porcine tubulin 
			Tubulin can be labeled with any amine-reactive dye as in reference52.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GMPCPP</td>
			<td>Jena Biosciences</td>
			<td>NU-405</td>
			<td>Aliquot and store at -70 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VALAP</td>
			<td>vaseline, lanolin, and paraffin at 1:1:2 by mass</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>see ref. 9</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

preparation of segmented microtubules to study motions driven by the disassembling microtubule ends

Microtubule depolymerization can provide force to transport different protein complexes and protein-coated beads in vitro. The underlying mechanisms are thought to play a vital role in the microtubule-dependent chromosome motions during cell division, but the relevant proteins and their exact roles are ill-defined. Thus, there is a growing need to develop assays with which to study such motility in vitro using purified components and defined biochemical milieu. Microtubules, however, are inherently unstable polymers; their switching between growth and shortening is stochastic and difficult to control. The protocols we describe here take advantage of the segmented microtubules that are made with the photoablatable stabilizing caps. Depolymerization of such segmented microtubules can be triggered with high temporal and spatial resolution, thereby assisting studies of motility at the disassembling microtubule ends. This technique can be used to carry out a quantitative analysis of the number of molecules in the fluorescently-labeled protein complexes, which move processively with dynamic microtubule ends. To optimize a signal-to-noise ratio in this and other quantitative fluorescent assays, coverslips should be treated to reduce nonspecific absorption of soluble fluorescently-labeled proteins. Detailed protocols are provided to take into account the unevenness of fluorescent illumination, and determine the intensity of a single fluorophore using equidistant Gaussian fit. Finally, we describe the use of segmented microtubules to study microtubule-dependent motions of the protein-coated microbeads, providing insights into the ability of different motor and nonmotor proteins to couple microtubule depolymerization to processive cargo motion.

Protein tracking with depolymerizing microtubule ends. Yeast kinetochore component Dam1 is by far the best tip-tracker of the depolymerizing microtubule ends14. This 10-subunit complex labeled with GFP can be readily expressed and purified from bacterial cells18,38, so we recommend using it as a positive control for the tip-tracking assay. A fluorescent protein that tracks with the depolymerizing end of a microtubule is seen as a bright fluorescent spot steadily moving towards the c...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends at JoVE.com

Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Microtubules are inherently unstable polymers, and their switching between growth and shortening is stochastic and difficult to control. Here we describe protocols using segmented microtubules with photoablatable stabilizing caps. Depolymerization of segmented microtubules can be triggered with high temporal and spatial resolution, thereby assisting analysis of motions with the disassembling microtubule ends.

Microtubule depolymerization can provide force to transport different protein complexes and protein-coated beads in vitro. The underlying mechanisms are ...

preparation-segmented-microtubules-to-study-motions-driven

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14.3K Views.  Russian Academy of Sciences. Microtubules are inherently unstable polymers, and their switching between growth and shortening is stochastic and difficult to control. Here we describe protocols using segmented microtubules with photoablatable stabilizing caps. Depolymerization of segmented microtubules can be triggered with high temporal and spatial resolution, thereby assisting analysis of motions with the disassembling microtubule ends.

Video: Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule Ends

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of the visual system provide more empirical evidence for functional applications. Investigation into the sensory system provides information about the sensory capacity, learning and memory ability, and establishes known baseline behaviour in which to gauge deviations (Burghardt, 1977). However, unlike mammalian or avian systems, testing for learning and memory in a reptile species is difficult. Furthermore, using an operant paradigm as a psychophysical measure of sensory ability is likewise as difficult. Historically, reptilian species have responded poorly to conditioning trials because of issues related to motivation, physiology, metabolism, and basic biological characteristics. Here, I demonstrate an operant paradigm used a novel model lizard species, the Jacky dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus) and describe how to test peripheral sensitivity to salient speed and motion characteristics. This method uses an innovative approach to assessing learning and sensory capacity in lizards. I employ the use of random-dot kinematograms (RDKs) to measure sensitivity to speed, and manipulate the level of signal strength by changing the proportion of dots moving in a coherent direction. RDKs do not represent a biologically meaningful stimulus, engages the visual system, and is a classic psychophysical tool used to measure sensitivity in humans and other animals. Here, RDKs are displayed to lizards using three video playback systems. Lizards are to select the direction (left or right) in which they perceive dots to be moving. Selection of the appropriate direction is reinforced by biologically important prey stimuli, simulated by computer-animated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in lizards using an operant conditioning paradigm that employs video playback of random-dot kinematograms and computer-generated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of ...

Computer-Generated Animal Model Stimuli

Communication between animals is diverse and complex. Animals may communicate using auditory, seismic, chemosensory, electrical, or visual signals. In particular, understanding the constraints on visual signal design for communication has been of great interest. Traditional methods for investigating animal interactions have used basic observational techniques, staged encounters, or physical manipulation of morphology. Less intrusive methods have tried to simulate conspecifics using crude playback tools, such as mirrors, still images, or models. As technology has become more advanced, video playback has emerged as another tool in which to examine visual communication (Rosenthal, 2000). However, to move one step further, the application of computer-animation now allows researchers to specifically isolate critical components necessary to elicit social responses from conspecifics, and manipulate these features to control interactions. Here, I provide detail on how to create an animation using the Jacky dragon as a model, but this process may be adaptable for other species. In building the animation, I elected to use Lightwave  3D to alter object morphology, add texture, install bones, and provide comparable weight shading that prevents exaggerated movement. The animation is then matched to select motor patterns to replicate critical movement features. Finally, the sequence must rendered into an individual clip for presentation. Although there are other adaptable techniques, this particular method had been demonstrated to be effective in eliciting both conspicuous and social responses in staged interactions.

Computer-generated stimuli using the Jacky dragon as a model.

Communication between animals is diverse and complex. Animals may communicate using auditory, seismic, chemosensory, electrical, or visual signals. In ...

Isolation and Purification of Drosophila Peripheral Neurons by Magnetic Bead Sorting

The Drosophila peripheral nervous system (PNS) is a powerful model for investigating the complex processes of neuronal development and dendrite morphogenesis at the functional and molecular levels. To aid in these analyses, we have developed a strategy for the isolation of a subclass of PNS neurons called dendritic arborization (da) neurons that have been widely used for studying dendrite morphogenesis1,2. These neurons are very difficult to isolate as a pure population, due in part to their extremely low occurrence and their difficult-to-reach location below the tough chitinous larval cuticle. Our newly developed method overcomes these challenges, and is based on a fast and specific cell enrichment using antibody-coated magnetic beads. For our magnetic bead sorting studies, we have used age-matched third instar larvae expressing a mouse CD8 tagged GFP fusion protein (UAS-mCD8-GFP)3 under the control of either the class IV dendritic arborization (da) neuron-specific pickpocket (ppk)-GAL4 driver4 or the control of the pan-da neuron-specific GAL421-7 driver5. Although this protocol has been optimized for isolating PNS cells which are attached to the inner wall of the larval cuticle, by varying a few parameters, the same protocol could be used to isolate many different cell types attached to the cuticle at larval or pupal stages of development (e.g. epithelia, muscle, oenocytes etc.), or other cell types from larval organs depending upon the GAL4-specific driver expression pattern. The RNA isolated by this method is of high quality and can be readily used for downstream genomic analyses such as microarray gene expression profiling studies. This approach offers a powerful new tool to perform studies on isolated Drosophila dendritic arborization (da) neurons thereby providing novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying dendrite morphogenesis.

Isolation and Purification of Drosophila Peripheral Neurons by Magnetic Bead Sorting

In this video-article we present a method for the isolation and purification of Drosophila peripheral neurons using a fast magnetic bead assisted cell sorting strategy. RNA obtained from the isolated cells can be readily used for downstream applications including microarray analyses.

The Drosophila peripheral nervous system (PNS) is a powerful model for investigating the complex processes of neuronal development and dendrite ...

Production of Xenopus tropicalis Egg Extracts to Identify Microtubule-associated RNAs

Many organisms localize mRNAs to specific subcellular destinations to spatially and temporally control gene expression. Recent studies have demonstrated that the majority of the transcriptome is localized to a nonrandom position in cells and embryos. One approach to identify localized mRNAs is to biochemically purify a cellular structure of interest and to identify all associated transcripts. Using recently developed high-throughput sequencing technologies it is now straightforward to identify all RNAs associated with a subcellular structure. To facilitate transcript identification it is necessary to work with an organism with a fully sequenced genome. One attractive system for the biochemical purification of subcellular structures are egg extracts produced from the frog Xenopus laevis. However, X. laevis currently does not have a fully sequenced genome, which hampers transcript identification. In this article we describe a method to produce egg extracts from a related frog, X. tropicalis, that has a fully sequenced genome. We provide details for microtubule polymerization, purification and transcript isolation. While this article describes a specific method for identification of microtubule-associated transcripts, we believe that it will be easily applied to other subcellular structures and will provide a powerful method for identification of localized RNAs.

Production of Xenopus tropicalis Egg Extracts to Identify Microtubule-associated RNAs

We describe the collection of unfertilized Xenopus tropicalis eggs and production of a meiosis II-arrested egg extract. This egg extract can be used to purify microtubules and microtubule-associated RNAs.

Many  organisms localize mRNAs to specific subcellular destinations to spatially and  temporally control gene expression. Recent studies have demonstrated ...

Preparation of the Mgm101 Recombination Protein by MBP-based Tagging Strategy

The MGM101 gene was identified 20 years ago for its role in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA. Studies from several groups have suggested that the Mgm101 protein is involved in the recombinational repair of mitochondrial DNA. Recent investigations have indicated that Mgm101 is related to the Rad52-type recombination protein family. These proteins form large oligomeric rings and promote the annealing of homologous single stranded DNA molecules. However, the characterization of Mgm101 has been hindered by the difficulty in producing the recombinant protein. Here, a reliable procedure for the preparation of recombinant Mgm101 is described. Maltose Binding Protein (MBP)-tagged Mgm101 is first expressed in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein is initially purified by amylose affinity chromatography. After being released by proteolytic cleavage, Mgm101 is separated from MBP by cationic exchange chromatography. Monodispersed Mgm101 is then obtained by size exclusion chromatography. A yield of ~0.87 mg of Mgm101 per liter of bacterial culture can be routinely obtained. The recombinant Mgm101 has minimal contamination of DNA. The prepared samples are successfully used for biochemical, structural and single particle image analyses of Mgm101. This protocol may also be used for the preparation of other large oligomeric DNA-binding proteins that may be misfolded and toxic to bacterial cells.

The yeast mitochondrial nucleoid protein, Mgm101, is a Rad52-type recombination protein that forms large oligomeric rings. A protocol is described to prepare soluble recombinant Mgm101 using the Maltose Binding Protein (MBP)-tagging strategy coupled with cation exchange and size exclusion chromatography.

The MGM101 gene was identified 20 years ago for its role in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA. Studies from several groups have suggested that the ...

Using Caco-2 Cells to Study Lipid Transport by the Intestine

Studies of dietary fat absorption are generally conducted by using an animal model equipped with a lymph cannula. Although this animal model is widely accepted as the in vivo model of dietary fat absorption, the surgical techniques involved are challenging and expensive. Genetic manipulation of the animal model is also costly and time consuming. The alternative in vitro model is arguably more affordable, timesaving, and less challenging. Importantly, the in vitro model allows investigators to examine the enterocytes as an isolated system, reducing the complexity inherent in the whole organism model. This paper describes how human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2) can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs and vitamins. It explains the proper maintenance of Caco-2 cells and the preparation of their lipid mixture; and it further discusses the valuable option of using the permeable membrane system. Since differentiated Caco-2 cells are polarized, the main advantage of using the permeable membrane system is that it separates the apical from the basolateral compartment. Consequently, the lipid mixture can be added to the apical compartment while the lipoproteins can be collected from the basolateral compartment. In addition, the effectiveness of the lentivirus expression system in upregulating gene expression in Caco-2 cells is discussed. Lastly, this paper describes how to confirm the successful isolation of intestinal lipoproteins by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Caco-2 cells can serve as an in vitro model to study the enterocyte transport of lipids, and lipid-soluble drugs/vitamins. The permeable membrane system separates the apical from the basolateral compartment, while the lentivirus expression system offers an effective gene overexpression method. The isolation of lipoproteins is confirmed by TEM.

Studies of dietary fat absorption are generally conducted by using an animal model equipped with a lymph cannula. Although this animal model is widely ...

High-resolution Time-lapse Imaging and Automated Analysis of Microtubule Dynamics in Living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

The physiological process by which new vasculature forms from existing vasculature requires specific signaling events that trigger morphological changes within individual endothelial cells (ECs). These processes are critical for homeostatic maintenance such as wound healing, and are also crucial in promoting tumor growth and metastasis. EC morphology is defined by the organization of the cytoskeleton, a tightly regulated system of actin and microtubule (MT) dynamics that is known to control EC branching, polarity and directional migration, essential components of angiogenesis. To study MT dynamics, we used high-resolution fluorescence microscopy coupled with computational image analysis of fluorescently-labeled MT plus-ends to investigate MT growth dynamics and the regulation of EC branching morphology and directional migration. Time-lapse imaging of living Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) was performed following transfection with fluorescently-labeled MT End Binding protein 3 (EB3) and Mitotic Centromere Associated Kinesin (MCAK)-specific cDNA constructs to evaluate effects on MT dynamics. PlusTipTracker software was used to track EB3-labeled MT plus ends in order to measure MT growth speeds and MT growth lifetimes in time-lapse images. This methodology allows for the study of MT dynamics and the identification of how localized regulation of MT dynamics within sub-cellular regions contributes to the angiogenic processes of EC branching and migration.

Protocols for Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) culture, transient transfection of fluorescently-labeled markers of microtubule growth, live-cell imaging and automated analysis of interphase microtubule growth dynamics are detailed.

The physiological process by which new vasculature forms from existing vasculature requires specific signaling events that trigger morphological changes ...

Measurement of Microtubule Dynamics by Spinning Disk Microscopy in Monopolar Mitotic Spindles

We describe a modification of an established method to determine microtubule dynamics in living cells. The protocol is based on the expression of a genetically encoded marker for the positive ends of microtubules (EB3 labelled with tdTomato fluorescent protein) and high-speed, high-resolution, live-cell imaging using spinning disk confocal microscopy. Cell cycle synchronization and increased density of microtubules are achieved by inhibiting centrosomal separation in mitotic cells, and analysis of growth is performed using open-source U-Track software. The use of a bright and red-shifted fluorescent protein, in combination with the lower laser power and reduced exposure time required for spinning disk microscopy reduce phototoxicity and the probability of light-induced artifacts. This allows for imaging a larger number of cells in the same preparation while maintaining the cells in a growth medium under standard culture conditions. Because the analysis is performed in a supervised automatic fashion, the results are statistically robust and reproducible.

Here we present a robust and detailed method of microtubule dynamics analysis in cells synchronized in prometaphase using live-cell spinning disk confocal microscopy and MATLAB-based image processing.

We describe a modification of an established method to determine microtubule dynamics in living cells. The protocol is based on the expression of a ...

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Motility is crucial to the survival and success of many bacterial species. Many methodologies exist to exploit motility to understand signaling pathways, to elucidate the function and assembly of flagellar parts, and to examine and understand patterns of movement. Here we demonstrate a combination of three of these methodologies. Motility in soft agar is the oldest, offering a strong selection for isolating gain-of-function suppressor mutations in motility-impaired strains, where motility is restored through a second mutation. The cell-tethering technique, first employed to demonstrate the rotary nature of the flagellar motor, can be used to assess the impact of signaling effectors on the motor speed and its ability to switch rotational direction. The &#8220;border-crossing&#8221; assay is more recent, where swimming bacteria can be primed to transition into moving collectively as a swarm. In combination, these protocols represent a systematic and powerful approach to identifying components of the motility machinery, and to characterizing their role in different facets of swimming and swarming. They can be easily adapted to study motility in other bacterial species.

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Many bacteria use flagella-driven motility to navigate their environment and colonize favorable surroundings both individually and as a collective. Demonstrated here is the use of three established methods that exploit motility as a selection tool to identify components/pathways contributing to swimming and swarming motility.

Motility is crucial to the survival and success of many bacterial species. Many methodologies exist to exploit motility to understand signaling pathways, ...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Mosquito Electroantennography

Female mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth, claiming the lives of more than 1 million people every year due to pathogens they transmit when acquiring a blood-meal. To locate a host to feed on, mosquitoes rely on a wide range of sensory cues, including visual, mechanical, thermal, and olfactory. The study details a technique, electroantennography (EAG), that allows researchers to assess whether the mosquitoes can detect individual chemicals and blends of chemicals in a concentration-dependent manner. When coupled with gas-chromatography (GC-EAG), this technique allows to expose the antennae to a full headspace/complex mixture and determines which chemicals present in the sample of interest, the mosquito can detect. This is applicable to host body odors as well as plant floral bouquets or other ecologically relevant odors (e.g., oviposition sites odorants). Here, we described a protocol that permits long durations of preparation responsiveness time and is applicable to both female and male mosquitoes from multiple genera, including Aedes, Culex, Anopheles, and Toxorhynchites mosquitoes. As olfaction plays a major part in mosquito-host interactions and mosquito biology in general, EAGs and GC-EAG can reveal compounds of interest for the development of new disease vector control strategies (e.g., baits). Complemented with behavioral assays, the valence (e.g., attractant, repellent) of each chemical can be determined.

The present article details a step-by-step protocol for successful and low noise electroantennograms in several genera of mosquitoes, including both females and males.

Female mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth, claiming the lives of more than 1 million people every year due to pathogens they transmit when ...