Name: detection of phospholipase c activity in the brain homogenate from the honeybee
Uploaded: 2018-09-14T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Detection of Phospholipase C Activity in the Brain Homogenate from the Honeybee at JoVE.com

Figure 4B - 4D was modified from Suenami et al.24 with the permission of Biology Open. The authors are grateful to the publisher for the permission. This work was supported by the Human Frontier Science Program (RGY0077/2016) to Shota Suenami and Ryo Miyazaki.

1. Capture of Foraging Honeybees
<ol>
	<li>Purchase honeybee colonies from a local distributor.</li>
	<li>Using an insect net, catch forager bees which return to the hive with pollen bags on their hind legs. Transfer the bees to a standard 50-mL plastic conical tube and cap the tube (Figure 1). Put the tube on ice to anesthetize the bees. 
	NOTE: Wear the designated jackets for beekeeping to avoid bee stings. Nursing bees can also be collected depending on the experiment. To catch the...

<ol>
	<li>Winston, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Biology of the Honey Bee. , (1991).</li><li>Szyszka, P., Galkin, A., Menzel, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Associative+and+non-associative+plasticity+in+Kenyon+cells+of+the+honeybee+mushroom+body.">Associative and non-associative plasticity in Kenyon cells of the honeybee mushroom body.</a> Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience. 2, 3 (2008).</li><li>M&#252;&#223;ig, L., 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=Acute+disruption+of+the+NMDA+receptor+subunit+NR1+in+the+honeybee+brain+selectively+impairs+memory+formation.">Acute disruption of the NMDA receptor subunit NR1 in the honeybee brain selectively impairs memory formation.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 30 (23), 7817-7825 (2010).</li><li>Devaud, J. -. 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=Neural+substrate+for+higher-order+learning+in+an+insect:+mushroom+bodies+are+necessary+for+configural+discriminations.">Neural substrate for higher-order learning in an insect: mushroom bodies are necessary for configural discriminations.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112 (43), E5854-E5862 (2015).</li><li>Gr&#252;nbaum, L., M&#252;ller, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induction+of+a+specific+olfactory+memory+leads+to+a+long-lasting+activation+of+protein+kinase+C+in+the+antennal+lobe+of+the+honeybee.">Induction of a specific olfactory memory leads to a long-lasting activation of protein kinase C in the antennal lobe of the honeybee.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 18 (11), 4384-4392 (1998).</li><li>Kamikouchi, A., Takeuchi, H., Sawata, M., Natori, S., Kubo, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Concentrated+expression+of+Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent+protein+kinase+II+and+protein+kinase+C+in+the+mushroom+bodies+of+the+brain+of+the+honeybee+Apis+mellifera+L.">Concentrated expression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and protein kinase C in the mushroom bodies of the brain of the honeybee Apis mellifera L.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 417 (4), 501-510 (2000).</li><li>Sen Sarma, M., Rodriguez-Zas, S. L., Hong, F., Zhong, S., Robinson, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcriptomic+profiling+of+central+nervous+system+regions+in+three+species+of+honey+bee+during+dance+communication+behavior.">Transcriptomic profiling of central nervous system regions in three species of honey bee during dance communication behavior.</a> PLoS ONE. 4 (7), e6408 (2009).</li><li>Kaneko, K., 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=In+situ+hybridization+analysis+of+the+expression+of+futsch,+tau,+and+MESK2+homologues+in+the+brain+of+the+European+honeybee+(Apis+mellifera+L.).">In situ hybridization analysis of the expression of futsch, tau, and MESK2 homologues in the brain of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.).</a> PLoS ONE. 5 (2), e9213 (2010).</li><li>Kaneko, K., 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=Novel+middle-type+Kenyon+cells+in+the+honeybee+brain+revealed+by+area-preferential+gene+expression+analysis.">Novel middle-type Kenyon cells in the honeybee brain revealed by area-preferential gene expression analysis.</a> PLoS ONE. 8 (8), e71732 (2013).</li><li>Pasch, E., Muenz, T. S., R&#246;ssler, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CaMKII+is+differentially+localized+in+synaptic+regions+of+kenyon+cells+within+the+mushroom+bodies+of+the+honeybee+brain.">CaMKII is differentially localized in synaptic regions of kenyon cells within the mushroom bodies of the honeybee brain.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 519 (18), 3700-3712 (2011).</li><li>Suenami, 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=Analysis+of+the+differentiation+of+Kenyon+cell+subtypes+using+three+mushroom+body-preferential+genes+during+metamorphosis+in+the+honeybee+(Apis+mellifera+L.).">Analysis of the differentiation of Kenyon cell subtypes using three mushroom body-preferential genes during metamorphosis in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.).</a> PLoS ONE. 11 (6), e0157841 (2016).</li><li>Farooqui, T., Robinson, K., Vaessin, H., Smith, B. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulation+of+early+olfactory+processing+by+an+octopaminergic+reinforcement+pathway+in+the+honeybee.">Modulation of early olfactory processing by an octopaminergic reinforcement pathway in the honeybee.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 23 (12), 5370-5380 (2003).</li><li>Matsumoto, Y., 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=Cyclic+nucleotide-gated+channels,+calmodulin,+adenylyl+cyclase,+and+calcium/calmodulin-dependent+protein+kinase+II+are+required+for+late,+but+not+early,+long-term+memory+formation+in+the+honeybee.">Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, calmodulin, adenylyl cyclase, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II are required for late, but not early, long-term memory formation in the honeybee.</a> Learning &amp; Memory. 21 (5), 272-286 (2014).</li><li>Scholl, C., K&#252;bert, N., Muenz, T. S., R&#246;ssler, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=CaMKII+knockdown+affects+both+early+and+late+phases+of+olfactory+long-term+memory+in+the+honeybee.">CaMKII knockdown affects both early and late phases of olfactory long-term memory in the honeybee.</a> Journal of Experimental Biology. 218, 3788-3796 (2015).</li><li>Miyata, 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=Deficient+long-term+synaptic+depression+in+the+rostral+cerebellum+correlated+with+impaired+motor+learning+in+phospholipase+C+&#946;4+mutant+mice.">Deficient long-term synaptic depression in the rostral cerebellum correlated with impaired motor learning in phospholipase C &#946;4 mutant mice.</a> European Journal of Neuroscience. 13 (10), 1945-1954 (2001).</li><li>Koh, H. -. Y., Kim, D., Lee, J., Lee, S., Shin, H. -. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Deficits+in+social+behavior+and+sensorimotor+gating+in+mice+lacking+phospholipase+C&#946;1.">Deficits in social behavior and sensorimotor gating in mice lacking phospholipase C&#946;1.</a> Genes, Brain and Behavior. 7 (1), 120-128 (2008).</li><li>Quan, W. -. X., 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=Characteristics+of+behaviors+and+prepulse+inhibition+in+phospholipase+C&#949;-/-+mice.">Characteristics of behaviors and prepulse inhibition in phospholipase C&#949;-/- mice.</a> Neurology,Psychiatry and Brain Research. 18 (4), 169-174 (2012).</li><li>Rioult-Pedotti, M. -. S., Pekanovic, A., Atiemo, C. O., Marshall, J., Luft, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dopamine+promotes+motor+cortex+plasticity+and+motor+skill+learning+via+PLC+activation.">Dopamine promotes motor cortex plasticity and motor skill learning via PLC activation.</a> PLoS ONE. 10 (5), e0124986 (2015).</li><li>Ghosh, A., Greenberg, M. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+signaling+in+neurons:+molecular+mechanisms+and+cellular+consequences.">Calcium signaling in neurons: molecular mechanisms and cellular consequences.</a> Science. 268 (5208), 239-247 (1995).</li><li>Smrcka, A. V., Brown, J. H., Holz, G. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+phospholipase+C&#949;+in+physiological+phosphoinositide+signaling+networks.">Role of phospholipase C&#949; in physiological phosphoinositide signaling networks.</a> Cellular Signalling. 24 (6), 1333-1343 (2012).</li><li>Dusaban, S. S., Brown, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PLC&#949;+mediated+sustained+signaling+pathways.">PLC&#949; mediated sustained signaling pathways.</a> Advances in Biological Regulation. 57, 17-23 (2015).</li><li>Elgersma, Y., Sweatt, J. D., Giese, K. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+genetic+approaches+to+investigating+calcium/calmodulin-dependent+protein+kinase+II+function+in+plasticity+and+cognition.">Mouse genetic approaches to investigating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II function in plasticity and cognition.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 24 (39), 8410-8415 (2004).</li><li>Giese, K. P., Mizuno, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+roles+of+protein+kinases+in+learning+and+memory.">The roles of protein kinases in learning and memory.</a> Learning &amp; Memory. 20 (10), 540-552 (2013).</li><li>Suenami, S., Iino, S., Kubo, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pharmacologic+inhibition+of+phospholipase+C+in+the+brain+attenuates+early+memory+formation+in+the+honeybee+(Apis+mellifera+L.).">Pharmacologic inhibition of phospholipase C in the brain attenuates early memory formation in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.).</a> Biology Open. 7 (1), (2018).</li><li>Zhu, L., McKay, R. R., Shortridge, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tissue-specific+expression+of+phospholipase+C+encoded+by+the+norpA+gene+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.">Tissue-specific expression of phospholipase C encoded by the norpA gene of Drosophila melanogaster.</a> The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 268 (21), 15994-16001 (1993).</li><li>Huang, W., Hicks, S. N., Sondek, J., Zhang, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+fluorogenic,+small+molecule+reporter+for+mammalian+phospholipase+C+isozymes.">A fluorogenic, small molecule reporter for mammalian phospholipase C isozymes.</a> ACS Chemical Biology. 6 (3), 223-228 (2011).</li><li>Yoshioka, T., Inoue, H., Hotta, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Absence+of+phosphatidylinositol+phosphodiesterase+in+the+head+of+a+Drosophila+visual+mutant,+norpA+(no+receptor+potential+A).">Absence of phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase in the head of a Drosophila visual mutant, norpA (no receptor potential A).</a> The Journal of Biochemistry. 97 (4), 1251-1254 (1985).</li><li>Janjanam, J., Chandaka, G. K., Kotla, S., Rao, G. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PLC&#946;3+mediates+cortactin+interaction+with+WAVE2+in+MCP1-induced+actin+polymerization+and+cell+migration.">PLC&#946;3 mediates cortactin interaction with WAVE2 in MCP1-induced actin polymerization and cell migration.</a> Molecular Biology of the Cell. 26 (25), 4589-4606 (2015).</li><li>Fiala, A., M&#252;ller, U., Menzel, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reversible+downregulation+of+protein+kinase+A+during+olfactory+learning+using+antisense+technique+impairs+long-term+memory+formation+in+the+honeybee,+Apis+mellifera.">Reversible downregulation of protein kinase A during olfactory learning using antisense technique impairs long-term memory formation in the honeybee, Apis mellifera.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 19 (22), 10125-10134 (1999).</li><li>Thamm, M., Scheiner, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PKG+in+honey+bees:+spatial+expression,+Amfor+gene+expression,+sucrose+responsiveness,+and+division+of+labor.">PKG in honey bees: spatial expression, Amfor gene expression, sucrose responsiveness, and division of labor.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 522 (8), 1786-1799 (2014).</li><li>Balfanz, 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=Functional+characterization+of+transmembrane+adenylyl+cyclases+from+the+honeybee+brain.">Functional characterization of transmembrane adenylyl cyclases from the honeybee brain.</a> Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 42 (6), 435-445 (2012).</li><li>Lopez, I., Mak, E. 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The biochemical examination of protein activity is profoundly important for understanding molecular signaling in the brain, because the activity of an enzyme is affected by various molecules, such as substrates and inhibitors, and can, thus, change along with animal behavior (e.g., learning and memory)5. In honeybee studies, enzymes such as cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A, cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, PKC, phosphorylated CaMKII, and adenylate cyclase are reported to be diffe...

The European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is a eusocial insect, and female bees show caste-dependent reproduction and&#160;age-dependent division of labor. For example, in the sterile caste of bees referred to as &#39;workers&#39;, younger individuals feed the broods while older ones&#160;forage nectar and pollen outside the hive1. Learning and memory ability is critically important in the life of the honeybee, because foragers must repeatedly go back and forth between food sources and their nest and then communicate the locations of good food sources to their nestmates through dance communication1. Previous studies demonstrated that the MB, a higher brain center in insects, is involved in the learning and memory ability of the honeybee2,3,4. Differentially expressed genes and proteins have been identified in various brain regions of the honeybee5,6,7,8,9,10,11, suggesting that they are related to the unique functions of each brain region. Although the pharmacologic inhibition or activation of a protein of interest is a well-used approach to reveal the function of the protein in honeybee behavior12,13,14, it is unknown whether all drugs have functional effects in different regions of the honeybee brain. The validation of the functions of such drugs will strengthen conclusions in studies of behavioral pharmacology.
Here, we focus on PLC, one of the enzymes implicated in mouse cognition15,16,17,18. PLC triggers calcium signaling by degrading phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG)19,20,21. IP3 opens IP3 receptors on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to the release of calcium ions from the ER. The released calcium activates both calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) with calmodulin and protein kinase C (PKC) in the presence of DAG. Both protein kinases are involved in learning and memory22,23, consistent with the involvement of PLC in this process. PLCs are categorized into subtypes, including PLC&#946;, PLC&#947;, and PLC&#949;, based on their structures20. Each PLC subtype is activated in a different context20, and genes encoding those subtypes are differentially expressed in different tissues. We previously demonstrated that honeybee MBs express genes encoding PLC&#946; and PLC&#949; subtypes at higher levels than the remaining brain regions24, and that two pan-PLC inhibitors (edelfosine and neomycin sulfate [neomycin]) decrease PLC activity in different brain regions and, indeed, affect the learning and memory ability of the honeybee24.
Traditionally, the enzymatic activity of PLC has been measured using radiolabeled PIP225, which requires appropriate training, equipment, and facilities. Recently, a synthetic fluorogenic substrate of PLC has been established26, making it easy to assess PLC activity in the standard laboratory. Here, we present a detailed protocol to detect PLC activity in different brain regions of the honeybee using the fluorogenic substrate and to subsequently test the inhibitory effects of edelfosine and neomycin on PLC in these tissues. Because the protocol requires only basic manipulations, it may be applicable to studies of PLC activity in other tissues or brain areas in bees allocated to different social tasks.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:479px;" width="478">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="80">
			<td height="80" style="height:80px;width:113px;">Pierce BCA Protein Assay Kit</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">23227</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">The reagent kit for measurement of protein concentration</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="100">
			<td height="100" style="height:100px;width:113px;">Pierce Bovine Serum Albumin Standard Ampules 2mg/mL</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>23209</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">The standard samples used in BCA assay</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:113px;">Paraffin wax</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">GC</td>
			<td>13B1X00155000141</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Dental wax used as dissection stage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:113px;">Insect pin</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">Shiga</td>
			<td>No. 0</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Stainless, solid head</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:113px;">PLCglow</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">KXT Bio</td>
			<td>KCH-0001</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">A fluorogenic substrate of PLC</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:113px;">384-well microplate</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">Corning</td>
			<td>4511</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">Low-volume, round-bottom plate in black color</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:113px;">Gemini EM microplate reader</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">Molecular Devices</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:125px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:113px;">Edelfosine</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td>sc-201021</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">pan-PLC inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:113px;">Neomycin sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:101px;">Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td>sc-3573</td>
			<td style="width:125px;">pan-PLC inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

detection of phospholipase c activity in the brain homogenate from the honeybee

The honeybee is a model organism for evaluating complex behaviors and higher brain function, such as learning, memory, and division of labor. The mushroom body (MB) is a higher brain center proposed to be the neural substrate of complex honeybee behaviors. Although previous studies identified genes and proteins that are differentially expressed in the MBs and other brain regions, the activities of the proteins in each region are not yet fully understood. To reveal the functions of these proteins in the brain, pharmacologic analysis is a feasible approach, but it is first necessary to confirm that pharmacologic manipulations indeed alter the protein activity in these brain regions.
We previously identified a higher expression of genes encoding phospholipase C (PLC) in the MBs than in other brain regions, and pharmacologically assessed the involvement of PLC in honeybee behavior. In that study, we biochemically tested two pharmacologic agents and confirmed that they decreased PLC activity in the MBs and other brain regions. Here, we present a detailed description of how to detect PLC activity in honeybee brain homogenate. In this assay system, homogenates derived from different brain regions are reacted with a synthetic fluorogenic substrate, and fluorescence resulting from PLC activity is quantified and compared between brain regions. We also describe our evaluation of the inhibitory effects of certain drugs on PLC activity using the same system. Although this system is likely affected by other endogenous fluorescence compounds and/or the absorbance of the assay components and tissues, the measurement of PLC activity using this system is safer and easier than that using the traditional assay, which requires radiolabeled substrates. The simple procedure and manipulations allow us to examine PLC activity in the brains and other tissues of honeybees involved in different social tasks.

Protein Concentrations in Brain Homogenates: 
We prepared homogenates using forager bees. The calculated protein concentrations in the original homogenates are shown in Figure 3. The approximate protein concentrations in the original homogenate were as follows: 1.5 mg/mL in the MBs and 2.3 mg/mL in other brain regions. We used two bees per lot and six lots were analyzed.
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Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Detection of Phospholipase C Activity in the Brain Homogenate from the Honeybee at JoVE.com

Detection of Phospholipase C Activity in the Brain Homogenate from the Honeybee

To test the inhibitory effects of pharmacologic agents on phospholipase C (PLC) in different regions of the honeybee brain, we present a biochemical assay to measure PLC activity in those regions. This assay could be useful for comparing PLC activity among tissues, as well as among bees exhibiting different behaviors.

The honeybee is a model organism for evaluating complex behaviors and higher brain function, such as learning, memory, and division of labor. The mushroom ...

This method can help answer key questions in the neuroscience field such as whether and how PLC activities in different brain regions are involved in brain function of the honeybee.The main advantage of this technique is that researchers can easily preform an experiment with the standard laboratory facilities as this protocol requires only basic manipulations.To begin, place a 50ml tube containing honeybees on ice for 30 minutes to anesthetize the bees.Next, prepare the dissection stage by folding a piece of dental wax in half and placing it in a plastic dish.Under a binocular microscope, use tweezers to separate the bee's head from its body.Then, fix the head on the dental wax and insert insect pins at the base of each antenna to hold the interior of the head in an upward position.Next, pour enough saline solution over the head to cover it.Using tweezers remove the antenna.After this, use a scalpel to make a horizontal cut near the bases of the antenna and a longitudinal cut at the border of the compound eyes.Make a horizontal cut at the top of the head and remove the cuticle to open a window over the brain.Next, use tweezers to remove the retin eye from the ossicle and the trache from the interior surface of the brain.Then, insert the tweezers directly under the eye cuticle to remove the connective tissue between the cuticle of the compound eyes and retin eye.After that, remove the cuticle and retin eye of the compound eyes.Next, use the tweezers to carefully remove the remaining trache from the interior surface of the brain.Then, cut the connective tissue between the brain and around the tissues and dissect the brain from the head capsule.Using the tweezers, peel the trache off of the posterior surface of the brain.Then use a scalpel to cut the connection between the mushroom bodies or MBs and other brain regions next to the vertical lobes.Place the dissected MBs and any remaining brain tissues into 1.5ml tubes and freeze them rapidly with dry ice.First, add 10ml of homogenization buffer to the frozen brain tissue.Use a plastic peselle to manually homogenize the tissue in the 1.5ml tube.After this, transfer the homogenized tissue solution to the next tissue in the lot and repeat the homogenization process.Then, add 30

detection-phospholipase-c-activity-brain-homogenate-from

Research

JoVE Journal

Biochemistry

Detection of the pH-dependent Activity of Escherichia coli Chaperone HdeB In Vitro and In Vivo

Bacteria are frequently exposed to environmental changes, such as alterations in pH, temperature, redox status, light exposure or mechanical force. Many of these conditions cause protein unfolding in the cell and have detrimental impact on the survival of the organism. A group of unrelated, stress-specific molecular chaperones have been shown to play essential roles in the survival of these stress conditions. While fully folded and chaperone-inactive before stress, these proteins rapidly unfold and become chaperone-active under specific stress conditions. Once activated, these conditionally disordered chaperones bind to a large number of different aggregation-prone proteins, prevent their aggregation and either directly or indirectly facilitate protein refolding upon return to non-stress conditions. The primary approach for gaining a more detailed understanding about the mechanism of their activation and client recognition involves the purification and subsequent characterization of these proteins using in vitro chaperone assays. Follow-up in vivo stress assays are absolutely essential to independently confirm the obtained in vitro results.
This protocol describes in vitro and in vivo methods to characterize the chaperone activity of E. coli HdeB, an acid-activated chaperone. Light scattering measurements were used as a convenient read-out for HdeB&#39;s capacity to prevent acid-induced aggregation of an established model client protein, MDH, in vitro. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments were applied to reveal complex formation between HdeB and its client protein LDH, to shed light into the fate of client proteins upon their return to non-stress conditions. Enzymatic activity assays of the client proteins were conducted to monitor the effects of HdeB on pH-induced client inactivation and reactivation. Finally, survival studies were used to monitor the influence of HdeB&#39;s chaperone function in vivo.

Detection of the pH-dependent Activity of Escherichia coli Chaperone HdeB In Vitro and In Vivo

This study describes biophysical, biochemical and molecular techniques to characterize the chaperone activity of Escherichia coli HdeB under acidic pH conditions. These methods have been successfully applied for other acid-protective chaperones such as HdeA and can be modified to work for other chaperones and stress conditions.

Bacteria are frequently exposed to environmental changes, such as alterations in pH, temperature, redox status, light exposure or mechanical force. Many ...

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates

Microorganisms produce a wide spectrum of (phospho)lipases that are secreted in order to make external substrates available for the organism. Alternatively, other (phospho)lipases may be physically associated with the producing organism causing a turnover of intrinsic lipids and frequently giving rise to a remodeling of the cellular membranes. Although potential (phospho)lipases can be predicted with a number of algorithms when the gene/protein sequence is available, experimental proof of the enzyme activities, substrate specificities, and potential physiological functions has frequently not been obtained. This manuscript describes the optimization of assay conditions for prospective (phospho)lipases with unknown substrate specificities and how to employ these optimized conditions in the search for the natural substrate of a respective (phospho)lipase. Using artificial chromogenic substrates, such as p-nitrophenyl derivatives, may help to detect a minor enzymatic activity for a predicted (phospho)lipase under standard conditions. Having encountered such a minor enzymatic activity, the distinct parameters of an enzyme assay can be varied in order to obtain a more efficient hydrolysis of the artificial substrate. After having determined the conditions under which an enzyme works well, a variety of potential natural substrates should be assayed for their degradation, a process that can be followed employing distinct chromatographic methods. The definition of substrate specificities for new enzymes, often provides hypotheses for a potential physiological role of these enzymes, which then can be tested experimentally. Following these guidelines, we were able to identify a phospholipase C (SMc00171) that degrades phosphatidylcholine to phosphocholine and diacylglycerol, in a crucial step for the remodeling of membranes in the bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti upon phosphorus-limiting conditions of growth. For two predicted patatin-like phospholipases (SMc00930 and SMc01003) of the same organism, we could redefine their substrate specificities and clarify that SMc01003 is a diacylglycerol lipase.

Many predicted (phospho)lipases are poorly characterized with regard to their substrate specificities and physiological functions. Here we provide a protocol to optimize enzyme activities, search for natural substrates, and propose physiological functions for these enzymes.

Microorganisms produce a wide spectrum of (phospho)lipases that are secreted in order to make external substrates available for the organism. ...

Tandem Affinity Purification of Protein Complexes from Eukaryotic Cells

The purification of active protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes is crucial for the characterization of enzymatic activities and de novo identification of novel subunits and post-translational modifications. Bacterial systems allow for the expression and purification of a wide variety of single polypeptides and protein complexes. However, this system does not enable the purification of protein subunits that contain post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation and acetylation), and the identification of novel regulatory subunits that are only present/expressed in the eukaryotic system. Here, we provide a detailed description of a novel, robust, and efficient tandem affinity purification (TAP) method using STREP- and FLAG-tagged proteins that facilitates the purification of protein complexes with transiently or stably expressed epitope-tagged proteins from eukaryotic cells. This protocol can be applied to characterize protein complex functionality, to discover post-translational modifications on complex subunits, and to identify novel regulatory complex components by mass spectrometry. Notably, this TAP method can be applied to study protein complexes formed by eukaryotic or pathogenic (viral and bacterial) components, thus yielding a wide array of downstream experimental opportunities. We propose that researchers working with protein complexes could utilize this approach in many different ways.

We describe here a novel, robust, and efficient tandem affinity purification (TAP) method for the expression, isolation, and characterization of protein complexes from eukaryotic cells. This protocol could be utilized for the biochemical characterization of discrete complexes as well as the identification of novel interactors and post-translational modifications that regulate their function.

The purification of active protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes is crucial for the characterization of enzymatic activities and de novo ...

Personalized Peptide Arrays for Detection of HLA Alloantibodies in Organ Transplantation

In organ transplantation, the function and longevity of the graft critically rely on the success of controlling immunological rejection reactivity against human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Histocompatibility guidelines are based on laboratory tests of anti-HLA immunity, which presents either as pre-existing or de novo generated HLA antibodies that constitute a major transplantation barrier. Current tests are built on a single-antigen beads (SAB) platform using a fixed set of ~100 preselected recombinant HLA antigens to probe transplant sera. However, in humans there exist a far greater variety of HLA types, with no two individuals other than identical twins who can share the same combination of HLA sequences. While advanced technologies for HLA typing and direct sequencing can precisely capture any mismatches in DNA sequence between a donor's and recipient's HLA, the SAB assay, due to its limited variety in sequence representation, is unable to precisely detect alloantibodies specifically against the donor HLA mismatches. We sought to develop a complementary method using a different technology to detect and characterize anti-donor HLA antibodies on a personalized basis. The screening tool is a custom peptide array of donor HLA-derived sequences for probing post-transplant sera of the organ recipient to assess the risk for antibody-mediated rejection. On a single array for one donor-recipient pair, up to 600 unique peptides are made based on the donor's HLA protein sequences, each peptide carrying at least one mismatched residue in a 15-amino acid sequence. In our pilot experiments to compare antigen patterns for pre- and post-transplant sera on these arrays, we were able to detect anti-HLA signals with the resolution that also allowed us to pinpoint the immune epitopes involved. These personalized antigen arrays allow high-resolution detection of donor-specific HLA epitopes in organ transplantation.

Mismatches in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sequences between organ donor and recipient pairs are the major cause of antibody-mediated rejection in organ transplantation. Here we present the use of custom antigen arrays that are based on individual donors' HLA sequences to probe anti-donor HLA alloantibodies in organ recipients.

In organ transplantation, the function and longevity of the graft critically rely on the success of controlling immunological rejection reactivity against ...

Rab10 Phosphorylation Detection by LRRK2 Activity Using SDS-PAGE with a Phosphate-binding Tag

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) have been shown to be linked with familial Parkinson&#39;s disease (FPD). Since abnormal activation of the kinase activity of LRRK2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD, it is essential to establish a method to evaluate the physiological levels of the kinase activity of LRRK2. Recent studies revealed that LRRK2 phosphorylates members of the Rab GTPase family, including Rab10, under physiological conditions. Although the phosphorylation of endogenous Rab10 by LRRK2 in cultured cells could be detected by mass spectrometry, it has been difficult to detect it by immunoblotting due to the poor sensitivity of currently available phosphorylation-specific antibodies for Rab10. Here, we describe a simple method of detecting the endogenous levels of Rab10 phosphorylation by LRRK2 based on immunoblotting utilizing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) combined with a phosphate-binding tag (P-tag), which is N-(5-(2-aminoethylcarbamoyl)pyridin-2-ylmetyl)-N,N&#39;,N&#39;-tris(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol. The present protocol not only provides an example of the methodology utilizing the P-tag but also enables the assessment of how mutations as well as inhibitor treatment/administration or any other factors alter the downstream signaling of LRRK2 in cells and tissues.

The present study describes a simple method of detecting endogenous levels of Rab10 phosphorylation by leucine-rich repeat kinase 2.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) have been shown to be linked with familial Parkinson&#39;s disease (FPD). Since abnormal activation of ...

A Colorimetric Method for Measuring Iron Content in Plants

Iron, one of the most important micronutrients in living organisms, is involved in basic processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis. Iron content is rather low in all organisms, amounting in plants to about 0.009% of dry weight. To date, one of the most accurate methods for measuring iron concentration in plant tissues is flame absorption atomic spectroscopy. However, this approach is time-consuming and expensive and requires specific equipment not commonly found in plant laboratories. Therefore, a simpler, yet accurate method that can be routinely used is needed. The colorimetric Prussian Blue method is regularly used for qualitative iron staining in animal and plant histological sections. In this study, we adapted the Prussian Blue method for quantitative measurements of iron in tobacco leaves. We validated the accuracy of this method using both atomic spectroscopy and Prussian Blue staining to measure iron content in the same samples and found a linear regression (R2 = 0.988) between the two procedures. We conclude that the Prussian Blue method for quantitative iron measurement in plant tissues is precise, simple, and inexpensive. However, the linear regression presented here may not be appropriate for other plant species, due to potential interactions between the sample and the reagent. Establishment of a regression curve is thus needed for different plant species.

We present a simple and reliable protocol for measuring iron content in plant tissues using the colorimetric Prussian Blue method.

Iron, one of the most important micronutrients in living organisms, is involved in basic processes, such as respiration and photosynthesis. Iron content ...

Defining Hsp33's Redox-regulated Chaperone Activity and Mapping Conformational Changes on Hsp33 Using Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry

Living organisms regularly need to cope with fluctuating environments during their life cycle, including changes in temperature, pH, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and more. These fluctuations can lead to a widespread protein unfolding, aggregation, and cell death. Therefore, cells have evolved a dynamic and stress-specific network of molecular chaperones, which maintain a "healthy" proteome during stress conditions. ATP-independent chaperones constitute one major class of molecular chaperones, which serve as first-line defense molecules, protecting against protein aggregation in a stress-dependent manner. One feature these chaperones have in common is their ability to utilize structural plasticity for their stress-specific activation, recognition, and release of the misfolded client. 
In this paper, we focus on the functional and structural analysis of one such intrinsically disordered chaperone, the bacterial redox-regulated Hsp33, which protects proteins against aggregation during oxidative stress. Here, we present a toolbox of diverse techniques for studying redox-regulated chaperone activity, as well as for mapping conformational changes of the chaperone, underlying its activity. Specifically, we describe a workflow which includes the preparation of fully reduced and fully oxidized proteins, followed by an analysis of the chaperone anti-aggregation activity in vitro using light-scattering, focusing on the degree of the anti-aggregation activity and its kinetics. To overcome frequent outliers accumulated during aggregation assays, we describe the usage of Kfits, a novel graphical tool which allows easy processing of kinetic measurements. This tool can be easily applied to other types of kinetic measurements for removing outliers and fitting kinetic parameters. To correlate the function with the protein structure, we describe the setup and workflow of a structural mass spectrometry technique, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, that allows the mapping of conformational changes on the chaperone and substrate during different stages of Hsp33 activity. The same methodology can be applied to other protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions.

Defining Hsp33&#039;s Redox-regulated Chaperone Activity and Mapping Conformational Changes on Hsp33 Using Hydrogen-deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry

One of the most challenging stress conditions that organisms encounter during their lifetime involves the accumulation of oxidants. During oxidative stress, cells heavily rely on molecular chaperones. Here, we present methods used to investigate the redox-regulated anti-aggregation activity, as well as to monitor structural changes governing the chaperone function using HDX-MS.

Living organisms regularly need to cope with fluctuating environments during their life cycle, including changes in temperature, pH, the accumulation of ...

Study on the Metabolism of Six Systemic Insecticides in a Newly Established Cell Suspension Culture Derived from Tea (Camellia Sinensis L.) Leaves

A platform for studying insecticide metabolism using in vitro tissues of tea plant was developed. Leaves from sterile tea plantlets were induced to form loose callus on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media with the plant hormones 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 1.0 mg L-1) and kinetin (KT, 0.1 mg L-1). Callus formed after 3 or 4 rounds of subculturing, each lasting 28 days. Loose callus (about 3 g) was then inoculated into B5 liquid media containing the same plant hormones and was cultured in a shaking incubator (120 rpm) in the dark at 25 &#177; 1 &#176;C. After 3&#8722;4 subcultures, a cell suspension derived from tea leaf was established at a subculture ratio ranging between 1:1 and 1:2 (suspension mother liquid: fresh medium). Using this platform, six insecticides (5 &#181;g mL-1 each thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, imidaclothiz, dimethoate, and omethoate) were added into the tea leaf-derived cell suspension culture. The metabolism of the insecticides was tracked using liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. To validate the usefulness of the tea cell suspension culture, the metabolites of thiamethoxan and dimethoate present in treated cell cultures and intact plants were compared using mass spectrometry. In treated tea cell cultures, seven metabolites of thiamethoxan and two metabolites of dimethoate were found, while in treated intact plants, only two metabolites of thiamethoxam and one of dimethoate were found. The use of a cell suspension simplified the metabolic analysis compared to the use of intact tea plants, especially for a difficult matrix such as tea.

Study on the Metabolism of Six Systemic Insecticides in a Newly Established Cell Suspension Culture Derived from Tea Camellia Sinensis L. Leaves

This work presents a protocol for establishing a cell suspension culture derived from tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaves that can be used to study the metabolism of external compounds that can be taken up by the whole plant, such as insecticides.

A platform for studying insecticide metabolism using in vitro tissues of tea plant was developed. Leaves from sterile tea plantlets were induced to form ...

Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (TRAP) for RNA Isolation from Endothelial Cells In Vivo

Many studies have been limited to using in vitro cellular assays and whole tissues or isolating of specific cell types from animals for in vitro analysis of transcriptome and gene expression by qPCR and RNA sequencing. Comprehensive transcriptome and gene expression analysis of specific cell types in complex tissues and organs will be critical to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms by which genes are regulated and their association with tissue homeostasis and organ functions. In this article, we demonstrate the methodology for isolation of ribosome-bound RNA directly in vivo in the vascular endothelia of animal lungs as an example. The specific materials and procedures for tissue processing and RNA purification will be described, including the assessment of RNA quality and yield as well as real time qPCR for arteriogenic gene assays. This approach, known as translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) technique, can be utilized for characterization of gene expression and transcriptome analysis of certain cell types directly in vivo in any specific type in complex tissues.

Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification TRAP for RNA Isolation from Endothelial Cells In Vivo

We present an approach to purify ribosome-bound mRNA from vascular endothelial cells (ECs) directly in mouse brain, lung and heart tissues via EC-specific genetic tag of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)in ribosomes in combination with RNA purification.

Many studies have been limited to using in vitro cellular assays and whole tissues or isolating of specific cell types from animals for in vitro analysis ...

SUMO-Binding Entities (SUBEs) as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer

Post-translational modification is a key mechanism regulating protein homeostasis and function in eukaryotic cells. Among all ubiquitin-like proteins in liver cancer, the modification by SUMO (Small Ubiquitin MOdifier) has been given the most attention. Isolation of endogenous SUMOylated proteins in vivo is challenging due to the presence of active SUMO-specific proteases. Initial studies of SUMOylation in vivo were based on the molecular detection of specific SUMOylated proteins (e.g., by western blot). However, in many cases, antibodies, generally made with non-modified recombinant protein, did not immunoprecipitate SUMOylated forms of the protein of interest.&#160;Nickel chromatography has been the other approach to study SUMOylation by capturing histidine-tagged versions of SUMO molecules. This approach is mainly used in cells stably expressing or transiently transfected with His-SUMO molecules. To overcome these limitations, SUMO-binding entities (SUBEs) were developed to isolate endogenous SUMOylated proteins. Herein, we describe all the steps required for the enrichment, isolation, and identification of SUMOylated substrates from human hepatoma cells and hepatic tissues from a liver cancer mouse model by using SUBEs. Firstly, we describe methods involved in the preparation and lysis of the human hepatoma cells and liver tumor tissue samples. Then, a thorough explanation of the preparation of SUBEs and controls is detailed along with the protocol for the protein pull-down assays. Finally, some examples are provided regarding the options available for the identification and characterization of the SUMOylated proteome, namely the use of western-blot analysis for the detection of a specific SUMOylated substrate from liver tumors or the use of proteomics by mass spectrometry for high-throughput characterization of the SUMOylated proteome and interactome in hepatoma cells.

SUMO-Binding Entities SUBEs as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer

Here, we present a protocol to enrich, isolate, identify, and characterize proteins modified by SUMO in vivo both from human hepatoma cells and liver tumors obtained from mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma by using SUMO-binding entities (SUBEs).

Post-translational modification is a key mechanism regulating protein homeostasis and function in eukaryotic cells. Among all ubiquitin-like proteins in ...