We would like to acknowledge Ms. Prachi Shah for helping us initially with the protocol optimization. We would like to thank Dr. Manoj Garg for providing the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line. EK is supported by a Research Grant from the Department of Biotechnology (No. BT/RLF/Re-entry/06/2015), Department of Science and Technology (ECR/2018/002117), and NMIMS Seed Grant (IO 401405).

NOTE: See the Table of Materials for details about all reagents used in the protocol below. Table 1 enlists lab-made reagents along with optimized volumes and Table 2 shows working concentrations of commercially available reagents.
1. Cell culture
<ol>
	<li>Maintain cells whose telomere length is to be measured (used here were A2780 cells, which is an ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line) in Dulbecco&#39;s modified eagle medium ...

Quantifying Telomere Length Using Non-Radioactive Chemiluminescence Detection

<ol>
	<li>Greider, C. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+length+regulation.">Telomere length regulation.</a> Annual Review of Biochemistry. 65, 337-365 (1996).</li><li>Valdes, A. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Obesity,+cigarette+smoking,+and+telomere+length+in+women.">Obesity, cigarette smoking, and telomere length in women.</a> Lancet. 366 (9486), 662-664 (2005).</li><li>Allsopp, R. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+length+predicts+replicative+capacity+of+human+fibroblasts.">Telomere length predicts replicative capacity of human fibroblasts.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 89 (21), 10114-10118 (1992).</li><li>Epel, E. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accelerated+telomere+shortening+in+response+to+life+stress.">Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101 (49), 17312-17315 (2004).</li><li>Canela, A., Vera, E., Klatt, P., Blasco, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+telomere+length+quantification+by+FISH+and+its+application+to+human+population+studies.">High-throughput telomere length quantification by FISH and its application to human population studies.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (13), 5300-5305 (2007).</li><li>R&#233;v&#233;sz, D., Milaneschi, Y., Verhoeven, J. E., Penninx, B. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+length+as+a+marker+of+cellular+aging+is+associated+with+prevalence+and+progression+of+metabolic+syndrome.">Telomere length as a marker of cellular aging is associated with prevalence and progression of metabolic syndrome.</a> The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 99 (12), 4607-4615 (2014).</li><li>Rizvi, S., Raza, S. T., Mahdi, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+length+variations+in+aging+and+age-related+diseases.">Telomere length variations in aging and age-related diseases.</a> Current Aging Science. 7 (3), 161-167 (2014).</li><li>Mender, I., Shay, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+restriction+fragment+(TRF)+analysis.">Telomere restriction fragment (TRF) analysis.</a> Bio-Protocol. 5 (22), e1658 (2015).</li><li>Zhu, Y., Liu, X., Ding, X., Wang, F., Geng, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+and+its+role+in+the+aging+pathways:+telomere+shortening,+cell+senescence+and+mitochondria+dysfunction.">Telomere and its role in the aging pathways: telomere shortening, cell senescence and mitochondria dysfunction.</a> Biogerontology. 20 (1), 1-16 (2019).</li><li>G&#246;hring, J., Fulcher, N., Jacak, J., Riha, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TeloTool:+a+new+tool+for+telomere+length+measurement+from+terminal+restriction+fragment+analysis+with+improved+probe+intensity+correction.">TeloTool: a new tool for telomere length measurement from terminal restriction fragment analysis with improved probe intensity correction.</a> Nucleic Acids Research. 42 (3), 21 (2014).</li><li>Jenkins, F. J., Kerr, C. M., Fouquerel, E., Bovbjerg, D. H., Opresko, P. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modified+terminal+restriction+fragment+analysis+for+quantifying+telomere+length+using+in-gel+hybridization.">Modified terminal restriction fragment analysis for quantifying telomere length using in-gel hybridization.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (125), e56001 (2017).</li><li>Fojtov&#225;, M., Fajkus, P., Sov&#225;kov&#225;, P. P., Fajkus, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Terminal+restriction+fragments+(TRF)+method+to+analyze+telomere+lengths.">Terminal restriction fragments (TRF) method to analyze telomere lengths.</a> Bio-protocol. 5 (23), e1671 (2015).</li><li>Kimura, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+of+telomere+length+by+the+Southern+blot+analysis+of+terminal+restriction+fragment+lengths.">Measurement of telomere length by the Southern blot analysis of terminal restriction fragment lengths.</a> Nature Protocols. 5 (9), 1596-1607 (2010).</li><li>Trigodet, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High+molecular+weight+DNA+extraction+strategies+for+long-read+sequencing+of+complex+metagenomes.">High molecular weight DNA extraction strategies for long-read sequencing of complex metagenomes.</a> Molecular Ecology Resources. 22 (5), 1786-1802 (2022).</li><li>Lai, T. P., Wright, W. E., Shay, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+telomere+length+measurement+methods.">Comparison of telomere length measurement methods.</a> Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 373 (1741), 20160451 (2018).</li><li>Mochida, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Telomere+size+and+telomerase+activity+in+Epstein-Barr+virus+(EBV)-positive+and+EBV-negative+Burkitt's+lymphoma+cell+lines.">Telomere size and telomerase activity in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive and EBV-negative Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines.</a> Archives of Virology. 150 (10), 2139-2150 (2005).</li><li>Gupta, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Replicative+senescence,+telomere+shortening+and+cell+proliferation+rate+in+Gaddi+goat's+skin+fibroblast+cell+line.">Replicative senescence, telomere shortening and cell proliferation rate in Gaddi goat's skin fibroblast cell line.</a> Cell Biology International. 31 (10), 1257-1264 (2007).</li><li>Michaeli, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Leukocyte+telomere+length+correlates+with+extended+female+fertility.">Leukocyte telomere length correlates with extended female fertility.</a> Cells. 11 (3), 513 (2022).</li><li>Lesmana, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Continuous+reference+intervals+for+leukocyte+telomere+length+in+children:+the+method+matters.">Continuous reference intervals for leukocyte telomere length in children: the method matters.</a> Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. 59 (7), 1279-1288 (2021).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

We describe a detailed procedure for a non-radioactive, chemiluminescence-based method for telomere length measurement using Southern blotting. The protocol has been tested to allow the judicious use of several reagents with no compromise on the quality of results. The prehybridization and hybridization buffer can be reused up to five times. Enzyme concentration can vary between 10-20 U per 1.5-2 &#181;g of genomic DNA without affecting the results. Several other kit components, such as the DIG-labeled molecular weight m...

Telomeres are the repetitive DNA sequences present at the end of chromosomes. They have tandem repeats of TTAGGG and maintain genome integrity by protecting the chromosome from both fraying and the end replication problem, which means that part of the 3&#39; overhang is unable to be replicated by DNA polymerase1,2. Short telomeres lead to chromosomal abnormalities in cells, due to which cells become permanently arrested in a stage called replicative senescence3. Short telomeres also cause a host of other problems, such as mitochondria dysfunction4,5 and cell dysfunction.
DNA telomeric repeats are lost as and when the cell divides, with an average loss of 25 to 200 bp per year6, resulting in cellular senescence after a certain number of divisions6. Aging is associated with a higher frequency of comorbidities, which is marked by a shortening in telomere length7. Telomere restriction fragment (TRF) analysis, as described by Mender, is a very expensive method8. Because of this, it is not implemented while quantifying telomere length in most studies.
Presently, the majority of epidemiological studies employ quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based measurements of telomere length. However, the qPCR-based method is a relative measurement method, as it measures the ratio between telomeres and single-copy gene amplification products, and not absolute telomere length. Telomere length measurement using the TRF protocol is the gold standard method, as it can measure telomere length distribution in the sample and measurements can be expressed in absolute values in kilobases (kb). However, its use is limited because it is cumbersome, labor-intensive, and costly. Here, we present an optimized protocol for telomere length measurement using chemiluminescence-based TRFs.
TRF analysis includes seven major steps: 1) culturing of cells for genomic DNA extraction, 2) genomic DNA extraction using the phenol:chloroform:isoamylalcohol (P:C:I) method, 3) restriction digestion of genomic DNA, 4) agarose gel electrophoresis, 5) Southern blotting of the restriction digestion DNA fragment, 6) hybridization and detection via chemiluminescence-the immobilized telomere probe is visualized by a highly sensitive chemiluminescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase, disodium 2-chloro-5-(4-methoxyspiro[1,2-dioxetane-3,2&#8242;-(5-chlorotricyclo[3.3.1.13.7]decan])-4-yl]-1-phenyl phosphate (CDP-Star)-and 7) analysis for obtaining mean telomere length and range information from these telomeric smears.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Line</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>A2780 (Ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line)</td>
			<td>Received as a gift</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ChemiDoc XRS+ (for imaging and UV cross linking)</td>
			<td>Biorad</td>
			<td>Universal hood II (721BR14277)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nanodrop (Epoch 2)</td>
			<td>Biotek</td>
			<td>EPOCH2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TeloTool</td>
			<td>Version 1.3</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Materials</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic Acid</td>
			<td>Molychem</td>
			<td>64-19-7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose</td>
			<td>MP</td>
			<td>180720</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amphotericin B</td>
			<td>Gibco, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM&#160;</td>
			<td>HyClone, Cytiva, USA</td>
			<td>SH30243.01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid&#160;</td>
			<td>Molychem</td>
			<td>6381-92-6</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HI FBS</td>
			<td>Gibco, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA</td>
			<td>10270106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HCl</td>
			<td>Molychem</td>
			<td>76-47-01-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Molychem</td>
			<td>7647-14-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaOH</td>
			<td>Molychem</td>
			<td>1310-73-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nylon membrane</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>11209299001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin</td>
			<td>Gibco, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium dodecyl sulfate</td>
			<td>Affymetrix</td>
			<td>151-21-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA</td>
			<td>15240062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris</td>
			<td>BIORAD</td>
			<td>77-86-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris HCl</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>1185-53-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Whatman paper</td>
			<td>GE healthcare lifesciences</td>
			<td>1001-917</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 kb ladder</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>N3232S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20x SSC</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15557-036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti DIG AP</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blocking solution 10x</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cutsmart Buffer</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>B6004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Detection buffer 10x</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dig easy hyb</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digestion Buffer</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hinf 1</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hinf 1 (alternative to kit)</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0155T</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Loading Dye</td>
			<td>BIOLABS</td>
			<td>N3231S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Maleic acid buffer 10x</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Molecular marker</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Probe</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rsa 1</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rsa 1 (alternative to kit)</td>
			<td>NEB</td>
			<td>R0167L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Substrate</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wash buffer</td>
			<td>Telo TAGGG Telomere Length Assay kit</td>
			<td>12209136001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

optimization of performance parameters of the taggg telomere length assay

Telomeres are repetitive sequences which are present at chromosomal ends; their shortening is a characteristic feature of human somatic cells. Shortening occurs due to a problem with end replication and the absence of the telomerase enzyme, which is responsible for maintaining telomere length. Interestingly, telomeres also shorten in response to various internal physiological processes, like oxidative stress and inflammation, which may be impacted due to extracellular agents like pollutants, infectious agents, nutrients, or radiation. Thus, telomere length serves as an excellent biomarker of aging and various physiological health parameters. The TAGGG telomere length assay kit is used to quantify average telomere lengths using the telomere restriction fragment (TRF) assay and is highly reproducible. However, it is an expensive method, and because of this, it is not employed routinely for large sample numbers. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for an optimized and cost-effective measurement of telomere length using Southern blots or TRF analysis and non-radioactive chemiluminescence-based detection.

Author Spotlight: Optimization of Performance Parameters of the TAGGG Telomere Length Assay  

Optimization of Performance Parameters of the TAGGG Telomere Length Assay

The scope of our research involves measuring telomere length differences across various study groups. The questions we are trying to answer revolve around diseases of physiological conditions and how they may affect telomere length and vice versa. The technology is currently used to advance research in the field of telomere length biology are nanopore sequencing and more recently CRISPR Cas based measurement.Current experimental challenges are accurately measuring absolute telomere length and the changes in it. The same sample could give varying results when different methods of measuring telomere length are used. The research gap we address is the lack of a standard method to measure telomere length.Telomere restriction fragment analysis or TRF, is still the standard against which all new techniques are evaluated. Also, our optimized protocols helps in processing a higher number of samples with limited resources. Our findings will help advance research in the field of telomere length biologic by providing a reliable and relatively economical way to compare newer methods to the gold standard, which is TRF.Our laboratory will focus on the effects of small molecule inhibitors on telomere length. We will also study the impact that lifestyle diseases and telomere length have on on each other.

The extracted genomic DNA (gDNA), which was run on a 1% agarose gel, showed good integrity, as shown in Figure 1B, indicating that the sample could be used for further downstream processing of TRFs. The TRF assay was then carried out by the modifying the volumes of solutions required at each step (see Table 1 and Table 2). The TRF signal was clearly visible (Figure 3). Thus, by modifying the solution volumes and concentrations, ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimization of Performance Parameters of the TAGGG Telomere Length Assay at JoVE.com

Here, we describe in detail the protocol for quantifying telomere length using non-radioactive chemiluminescent detection, with a focus on the optimization of various performance parameters of the TAGGG telomere length assay kit, such as buffer quantities and probe concentrations.

Telomeres are repetitive sequences which are present at chromosomal ends; their shortening is a characteristic feature of human somatic cells. Shortening ...

optimization-performance-parameters-taggg-telomere-length

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

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A2780 Cells Genomic DNA Isolation and Analysis

Begin by adding 500 microliters of the lysis buffer to the previously obtained A2780 cell pellet, and mix gently using a cut tip with a minimum opening diameter of two millimeters. Add 20 micrograms per milliliter of freshly prepared RNase and mix by gentle inversion. Incubate it at 37 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.At the end of incubation, add proteinase K to a final concentration of 100 micrograms per milliliter and gently invert 10 times. Incubate again at 55 degrees Celsius for one hour inverting the tube every 10 minutes. Pipette 500 microliters of phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol reagent into the tube and gently invert the tube about 20 times.Centrifuge it at 9, 391 G for 15 minutes at room temperature. Pipette the upper aqueous viscous layer into a new tube. Add an equal volume of chloroform and mix by gentle inversion.After centrifuging the tube once, collect the aqueous layer. Add an appropriate amount of five molar sodium chloride in the tube to increase the concentration by 0.2 moles. Add two volumes of 100%ethanol into the tube and invert it gently 20 times.Centrifuge at 15, 871 G for five minutes at room temperature. After discarding the supernatant, add 500 microliters of 70%ethanol. Centrifuge again at the same condition and then discard the supernatant.Once the pellet is air dried, add 50 microliters of sterile nuclease free water and let it rehydrate. Then mix the DNA by pipetting using the cut tip. Use UV spectrophotometry to measure the concentration of DNA.After digesting the DNA, separate it using 0.8%agarose. Submerge the agarose gel in 0.25 molar hydrochloric acid solution for 10 minutes at room temperature with gentle agitation. Then rinse the gel twice with distilled water.To denature the DNA, submerge the gel in a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. Then rinse the gel twice with distilled water. To neutralize the DNA as demonstrated, submerge the gel in a solution of 0.5 molar hydrochloric acid and three molar sodium chloride at pH seven.The extractor genomic DNA showed good integrity indicating its use for further downstream processing of telomere restriction fragments.

Southern Blotting, Hybridization, and Chemiluminescence Detection of Genomic DNA Isolated from A2780 Cells

To perform southern blotting, start by cutting a nylon membrane into a 10 by 12 centimeter sized segment. Make a notch in the same position as the gel. Activate the membrane by dipping it in distilled water, followed by 20X sodium saline citrate buffer.Place a filter paper wick on a double inverted tray, set such that the ends touch the base of the outer tray. Place the gel over the filter paper. Then place the activated nylon membrane over the gel, ensuring that the notches overlap.Remove any air bubbles with a glass rod. Place a two centimeter heap of 9.5 by 11.5 centimeter sized cellulose filter paper, and another six centimeter heap of regular filter paper. Place a weight atop the setup for equal weight distribution.Fill the outer tray with 20X sodium saline citrate buffer, and leave it overnight for efficient transfer. After southern transfer, fix the transferred DNA on the membrane by UV crosslinking on a UV transilluminator. Wash the membrane twice with 25 milliliters of 2X sodium saline citrate buffer.To perform hybridization, incubate the membrane in 10 milliliters of the pre-warmed pre-hybridization buffer. Gently agitate the membrane manually at frequent intervals. Then incubate the blot in 10 milliliters of hybridization buffer at 42 degrees Celsius for three hours with gentle agitation.Wash the blot twice in 25 milliliters of stringent buffer for 10 minutes at room temperature with gentle agitation. Now wash the blot twice in 25 milliliters of pre-warmed stringent buffer at 50 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes with gentle agitation. Rinse with 15 milliliters of wash buffer for five minutes with gentle agitation at room temperature.Incubate the membrane in 10 milliliters of freshly prepared blocking solution for 30 minutes at room temperature with gentle agitation. Then place it in 10 milliliters of anti-digoxigenin conjugated with an alkaline phosphatase working solution. Wash the blot twice in the wash buffer at room temperature for 15 minutes.Now incubate in 10 milliliters of detection buffer for five minutes at room temperature. After removing the excess buffer, place the membrane on an acetate sheet with the DNA side facing up. Add approximately one to 1.5 milliliters of substrate solution dropwise on the membrane.Immediately place another acetate sheet on it and incubate for five minutes at room temperature. Squeeze out the excess substrate solution before imaging. Using a gel documentation imaging system, collect multiple unsaturated images at different time points for analysis.After southern blotting and hybridization, the telomere restriction fragments were clearly visible, indicated by a smear.

1.5K Views.  SVKM's NMIMS Deemed-to-be-University.  Here, we describe in detail the protocol for quantifying telomere length using non-radioactive chemiluminescent detection, with a focus on the optimization of various performance parameters of the TAGGG telomere length assay kit, such as buffer quantities and probe concentrations. 

Quantifying Telomere Length Using Non-Radioactive Chemiluminescence Detection

Summary