University of Warsaw

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique

Rebekka A.V. Schwab¹, Wojciech Niedzwiedz^1,2

¹Department of Molecular Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , ²Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw

DT40, a model vertebrate genetic system, provides a powerful tool to analyze protein function. Here we describe a simple method that allows qualitative analysis of parameters that influence DNA synthesis during the S-phase in DT40 cells at the single molecule level.

Engineering

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Hao Zeng¹, Piotr Wasylczyk², Camilla Parmeggiani^1,3, Daniele Martella^1,4, Diederik Sybolt Wiersma¹

¹European Labratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, University of Florence, ²Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, ³CNR-INO, ⁴Chemistry Department, University of Florence

Here, we fabricate 3D polymeric micro/nano structures in which both the shape and the molecular alignment can be engineered with nanometer scale accuracy by the use of direct laser writing. Light induced deformation of several types of liquid crystalline elastomer microstructures can be controlled in the microscopic scale.

Biochemistry

High-Throughput Image-Based Quantification of Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis and Distribution

Lukasz S. Borowski^1,2, Karolina Kasztelan^2,3, Jolanta Czerwinska-Kostrzewska^1,2, Roman J. Szczesny²

¹Faculty of Biology, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, ²Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ³International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw

A procedure for studying the dynamics of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) metabolism in cells using a multi-well plate format and automated immunofluorescence imaging to detect and quantify mtDNA synthesis and distribution is described. This can be further used to investigate the effects of various inhibitors, cellular stresses, and gene silencing on mtDNA metabolism.