Name: dna transfection of mammalian skeletal muscles using in vivo electroporation
Uploaded: 2009-10-19T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about DNA Transfection of Mammalian Skeletal Muscles using In Vivo Electroporation at JoVE.com

We thank Dr. T. Otis, Department of Neurobiology, UCLA, for sharing the TPLSM facility with us, Dr. C. Fahlke, Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen, Germany, for the kind donation of the pEYFP-ClC1 plasmid, and Mr. R. Serrano for technical support. This work was supported by grants from NIH/NIAMS grants AR047664 and AR54816.

Experimental Procedures for in vivo electroporation of FDB and IO muscles
<ol>
<li>Before starting the in vivo electroporation protocols, mammalian expression plasmids must be amplified to yield concentration in the range of to 2-5 &mu;g plasmid/&mu;l of TE. Note: We routinely use commercial amplification kits and follow the manufacturer&#x2019; procedures. Commercial expression plasmids carrying the CMV promoter work very well in skeletal muscle in vivo transfections. </li>
<li>Aliquot the n...

<ol>
	<li>Muangmoonchai, R., Wong, S., Smirlis, D., Phillips, I., Shephard, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfection+of+liver+in+vivo+by+biolistic+particle+delivery.">Transfection of liver in vivo by biolistic particle delivery.</a> Molecular Biotechnology. 20 (2), 145-151 (2002).</li><li>DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Quinonez, M., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Voltage-dependent+dynamic+FRET+signals+from+the+transverse+tubules+in+mammalian+skeletal+muscle+fibers.">Voltage-dependent dynamic FRET signals from the transverse tubules in mammalian skeletal muscle fibers.</a> J Gen Physiol. 130 (6), 581-600 (2007).</li><li>DiFranco, M., Neco, P., Capote, J., Meera, P., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+evaluation+of+mammalian+skeletal+muscle+as+a+heterologous+protein+expression+system.">Quantitative evaluation of mammalian skeletal muscle as a heterologous protein expression system.</a> Protein Expression and Purification. 47 (1), 281-288 (2006).</li><li>Meera, P., Dodson, P. D., Karakossian, M. H., Otis, T. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression+of+GFP-tagged+neuronal+glutamate+transporters+in+cerebellar+Purkinje+neurons.">Expression of GFP-tagged neuronal glutamate transporters in cerebellar Purkinje neurons.</a> Neuropharmacology. 49 (6), 883-889 (2005).</li><li>DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Quinonez, M., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamic+FRET+Signals+between+DPA+and+the+{alpha}1s+and+{beta}1a+Subunits+of+the+DHPR+of+Mammalian+Skeletal+Muscle.">Dynamic FRET Signals between DPA and the {alpha}1s and {beta}1a Subunits of the DHPR of Mammalian Skeletal Muscle.</a> Biophys. J. 94, 2633-2633 (2008).</li><li>Woods, C. E., Novo, D., DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Propagation+in+the+transverse+tubular+system+and+voltage+dependence+of+calcium+release+in+normal+and+mdx+mouse+muscle+fibres.">Propagation in the transverse tubular system and voltage dependence of calcium release in normal and mdx mouse muscle fibres.</a> J Physiol. 568 (Pt 3), 867-880 (2005).</li><li>DiFranco, M., Woods, C. E., Capote, J., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dystrophic+skeletal+muscle+fibers+display+alterations+at+the+level+of+calcium+microdomains.">Dystrophic skeletal muscle fibers display alterations at the level of calcium microdomains.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 105 (38), 14698-14703 (2008).</li><li>Lueck, J. D., Mankodi, A., Swanson, M. S., Thornton, C. A., Dirksen, R. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Muscle+Chloride+Channel+Dysfunction+in+Two+Mouse+Models+of+Myotonic+Dystrophy.">Muscle Chloride Channel Dysfunction in Two Mouse Models of Myotonic Dystrophy.</a> J. Gen. Physiol. 129 (1), 79-94 (2007).</li><li>Zipfel, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Live+tissue+intrinsic+emission+microscopy+using+multiphoton-excited+native+fluorescence+and+second+harmonic+generation.">Live tissue intrinsic emission microscopy using multiphoton-excited native fluorescence and second harmonic generation.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 100 (12), 7075-7080 (2003).</li><li>Plotnikov, S. V., Millard, A. C., Campagnola, P. J., Mohler, W. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+the+Myosin-Based+Source+for+Second-Harmonic+Generation+from+Muscle+Sarcomeres.">Characterization of the Myosin-Based Source for Second-Harmonic Generation from Muscle Sarcomeres.</a> Biophys J. 90 (2), 693-703 (2006).</li><li>DiFranco, M., Capote, J., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optical+imaging+and+functional+characterization+of+the+transverse+tubular+system+of+mammalian+muscle+fibers+using+the+potentiometric+indicator+di-8-ANEPPS.">Optical imaging and functional characterization of the transverse tubular system of mammalian muscle fibers using the potentiometric indicator di-8-ANEPPS.</a> J Membr Biol. 208 (2), 141-153 (2005).</li><li>Mills, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+expression+of+the+actin-binding+proteins,+{{alpha}}-actinin-2+and+-3,+in+different+species:+implications+for+the+evolution+of+functional+redundancy.">Differential expression of the actin-binding proteins, {{alpha}}-actinin-2 and -3, in different species: implications for the evolution of functional redundancy.</a> Hum. Mol. Genet. 10 (13), 1335-1346 (2001).</li><li>Woods, C. E., Novo, D., DiFranco, M., Vergara, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+action+potential-evoked+sarcoplasmic+reticulum+calcium+release+is+impaired+in+mdx+mouse+muscle+fibres.">The action potential-evoked sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release is impaired in mdx mouse muscle fibres.</a> J Physiol. 557 (Pt 1), 59-75 (2004).</li></ol>

We describe here the detailed steps that should be followed in order to attain effective transfections of DNA plasmids into skeletal muscle fibers by in vivo electroporation. The main advantages of our approach are the simplicity of implementation, and its minimal invasiveness which results in negligible health hazard to the animals. In reality, the above described electroporation protocols do not entail much more than two subcutaneous injections per foot, followed by an electrical stimulation protocol, all of w...

dna transfection of mammalian skeletal muscles using in vivo electroporation

A growing interest in cell biology is to express transgenically modified forms of essential proteins (e.g. fluorescently tagged constructs and/or mutant variants) in order to investigate their endogenous distribution and functional relevance. An interesting approach that has been implemented to fulfill this objective in fully differentiated cells is the in vivo transfection of plasmids by various methods into specific tissues such as liver1, skeletal muscle2,3, and even the brain4. We present here a detailed description of the steps that must be followed in order to efficiently transfect genetic material into fibers of the flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) and interosseus (IO) muscles of adult mice using an in vivo electroporation approach. The experimental parameters have been optimized so as to maximize the number of muscle fibers transfected while minimizing tissue damages that may impair the quality and quantity of the proteins expressed in individual fibers. We have verified that the implementation of the methodology described in this paper results in a high yield of soluble proteins, i.e. EGFP and ECFP3, calpain, FKBP12, &beta;2a-DHPR, etc. ; structural proteins, i.e. minidystrophin and &alpha;-actinin; and membrane proteins, i.e. &alpha;1s-DHPR, RyR1, cardiac Na/Ca2+ exchanger , NaV1.4 Na channel, SERCA1, etc., when applied to FDB, IO and other muscles of mice and rats. The efficient expression of some of these proteins has been verified with biochemical3 and functional evidence5. However, by far the most common confirmatory approach used by us are standard fluorescent microscopy and 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM), which permit to identify not only the overall expression, but also the detailed intracellular localization, of fluorescently tagged protein constructs. The method could be equally used to transfect plasmids encoding for the expression of proteins of physiological relevance (as shown here), or for interference RNA (siRNA) aiming to suppress the expression of normally expressed proteins (not tested by us yet). It should be noted that the transfection of FDB and IO muscle fibers is particularly relevant for the investigation of mammalian muscle physiology since fibers enzymatically dissociated from these muscles are currently one of the most suitable models to investigate basic mechanisms of excitability and excitation-contraction coupling under current or voltage clamp conditions2,6-8.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about DNA Transfection of Mammalian Skeletal Muscles using In Vivo Electroporation at JoVE.com

DNA Transfection of Mammalian Skeletal Muscles using In Vivo Electroporation (Video) | JoVE

We describe detailed procedures for the efficient transfection of plasmid DNA into the fibers of foot muscles of live mice using electroporation and the subsequent visualization of protein expression using fluorescence microscopy.

DNA Transfection of Mammalian Skeletal Muscles using In Vivo Electroporation

 A growing interest in cell biology is to express transgenically modified forms of essential proteins (e.g. fluorescently tagged constructs and/or mutant ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Intranuclear Microinjection of DNA into Dissociated Adult Mammalian Neurons

Intranuclear Microinjection of DNA into Dissociated Adult Mammalian Neurons (Video) | JoVE

Primary neuronal cell cultures are valuable tools to study protein function since they represent a more biologically relevant system compared to ...

Analysis of DNA Double-strand Break (DSB) Repair in Mammalian Cells

Analysis of DNA Double-strand Break DSB Repair in Mammalian Cells (Video) | JoVE

DNA double-strand breaks are the most dangerous DNA lesions that may lead to massive loss of genetic information and cell death.  Cells repair DSBs using ...

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina

In vivo Electroporation of Morpholinos into the Adult Zebrafish Retina (Video) | JoVE

Many devastating inherited eye diseases result in progressive and irreversible blindness because humans cannot regenerate dying or diseased retinal ...

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles (Video) | JoVE

 
Described here is a method to measure contractility of isolated skeletal muscles. Parameters such as muscle force, muscle power, contractile kinetics, ...

Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies

Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies (Video) | JoVE

Critical to the evaluation of potential  therapeutics for muscular disease are sensitive and reproducible physiological  assessments of muscle function. ...

Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons

Real-time Imaging of Single Engineered RNA Transcripts in Living Cells Using Ratiometric Bimolecular Beacons (Video) | JoVE

The growing realization that both the temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression can have important consequences on cell function has led to the ...

In Vivo Microinjection and Electroporation of Mouse Testis

In Vivo Microinjection and Electroporation of Mouse Testis (Video) | JoVE

This video and article contribution gives a comprehensive description of microinjection and electroporation of mouse testis in vivo. This particular ...

Detection and Analysis of DNA Damage in Mouse Skeletal Muscle In Situ Using the TUNEL Method

Detection and Analysis of DNA Damage in Mouse Skeletal Muscle In Situ Using the TUNEL Method (Video) | JoVE

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) is the method of using the TdT enzyme to covalently ...

DNA Electroporation, Isolation and Imaging of Myofibers

DNA Electroporation, Isolation and Imaging of Myofibers (Video) | JoVE

Mature muscle has a unique structure that is amenable to live cell imaging. Herein, we describe the experimental protocol for expressing fluorescently ...

Examination of Proteins Bound to Nascent DNA in Mammalian Cells Using  BrdU-ChIP-Slot-Western Technique

Examination of Proteins Bound to Nascent DNA in Mammalian Cells Using  BrdU-ChIP-Slot-Western Technique (Video) | JoVE

Histone deacetylases 1 and 2 (HDAC1,2) localize to the sites of DNA replication. In the previous study, using a selective inhibitor and a genetic ...