Name: analysis of line-1 retrotransposition at the single nucleus level
Uploaded: 2016-04-23T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level at JoVE.com

This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (ES014443 and ES017274) and AstraZeneca to KSR.

NOTE: All steps should be carried out at room temperature unless otherwise specified. Please refer to Reagents section for details on how to prepare individual reagents.
1. Labeling L1 Probes
NOTE: Probes can be labeled by chemical or PCR labeling.
<ol>
	<li>Chemical labeling
	<ol>
		<li>Make 0.7-1% agarose gel in Tris-acetate-EDTA (TAE) buffer, heat in a microwave until melted, allow the gel to cool, and then add ethidium bromide (0.5 &#...

<ol>
	<li>Mathias, S. L., Scott, A. F., Kazazian, H. H., Boeke, J. D., Gabriel, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reverse+transcriptase+encoded+by+a+human+transposable+element.">Reverse transcriptase encoded by a human transposable element.</a> Science. 254, 1808-1810 (1991).</li><li>Feng, Q., Moran, J. V., Kazazian, H. H., Boeke, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+L1+retrotransposon+encodes+a+conserved+endonuclease+required+for+retrotransposition.">Human L1 retrotransposon encodes a conserved endonuclease required for retrotransposition.</a> Cell. 87, 905-916 (1996).</li><li>Clements, A. P., Singer, M. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+human+LINE-1+reverse+transcriptase:effect+of+deletions+outside+the+common+reverse+transcriptase+domain.">The human LINE-1 reverse transcriptase:effect of deletions outside the common reverse transcriptase domain.</a> Nucl Acids Res. 26, 3528-3535 (1998).</li><li>Martin, S. L., Branciforte, D., Keller, D., Bain, D. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Trimeric+structure+for+an+essential+protein+in+L1+retrotransposition.">Trimeric structure for an essential protein in L1 retrotransposition.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100, 13815-13820 (2003).</li><li>Khazina, E., 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=Trimeric+structure+and+flexibility+of+the+L1ORF1+protein+in+human+L1+retrotransposition.">Trimeric structure and flexibility of the L1ORF1 protein in human L1 retrotransposition.</a> Nat Struct Mol Biol. 18, 1006-1014 (2011).</li><li>Martin, S. L., Li, J., Weisz, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Deletion+analysis+defines+distinct+functional+domains+for+protein-protein+and+nucleic+acid+interactions+in+the+ORF1+protein+of+mouse+LINE-1.">Deletion analysis defines distinct functional domains for protein-protein and nucleic acid interactions in the ORF1 protein of mouse LINE-1.</a> J Mol Biol. 304, 11-20 (2000).</li><li>Martin, S. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ribonucleoprotein+particles+with+LINE-1+RNA+in+mouse+embryonal+carcinoma+cells.">Ribonucleoprotein particles with LINE-1 RNA in mouse embryonal carcinoma cells.</a> Mol Cell Biol. 11 (9), 4804-4807 (1991).</li><li>Hohjoh, H., Singer, M. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cytoplasmic+ribonucleoprotein+complexes+containing+human+LINE-1+protein+and+RNA.">Cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein complexes containing human LINE-1 protein and RNA.</a> EMBO J. 15, 630-639 (1996).</li><li>Cost, G. J., Feng, Q., Jacquier, A., Boeke, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+L1+element+target-primed+reverse+transcription+in+vitro.">Human L1 element target-primed reverse transcription in vitro.</a> EMBO J. 21, 5899-5910 (2002).</li><li>Szak, S. T., 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=Molecular+archeology+of+L1+insertions+in+the+human+genome.">Molecular archeology of L1 insertions in the human genome.</a> Genome Biol. 3, (2002).</li><li>Sen, S. K., Huang, C. T., Han, K., Batzer, 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=Endonuclease-independent+insertion+provides+an+alternative+pathway+for+L1+retrotransposition+in+the+human+genome.">Endonuclease-independent insertion provides an alternative pathway for L1 retrotransposition in the human genome.</a> Nucl Acids Res. 35, 3741-3751 (2007).</li><li>Bojang, P., Roberts, R. A., Anderton, M. J., Ramos, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reprogramming+of+the+HepG2+genome+by+long+interspersed+nuclear+element-1.">Reprogramming of the HepG2 genome by long interspersed nuclear element-1.</a> Mol Oncol. 7, 812-825 (2013).</li><li>Boeke, J. D., Garfinkel, D. J., Styles, C. A., Fink, G. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ty+elements+transpose+through+an+RNA+intermediate.">Ty elements transpose through an RNA intermediate.</a> Cell. 40, 491-500 (1985).</li><li>Heidmann, T., Heidmann, O., Nicolas, J. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+indicator+gene+to+demonstrate+intracellular+transposition+of+defective+retroviruses.">An indicator gene to demonstrate intracellular transposition of defective retroviruses.</a> PNAS. 85, 2219-2223 (1988).</li><li>Moran, J. V., 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+frequency+retrotransposition+in+cultured+mammalian+cells.">High frequency retrotransposition in cultured mammalian cells.</a> Cell. 87, 917-927 (1996).</li><li>Bojang, P., Anderton, M. J., Roberts, R. A., Ramos, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=De+novo+LINE-1+retrotransposition+in+HepG2+cells+preferentially+targets+gene+poor+regions+of+chromosome+13.">De novo LINE-1 retrotransposition in HepG2 cells preferentially targets gene poor regions of chromosome 13.</a> Genomics. 104, 96-104 (2014).</li><li>Rozen, 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=Abundant+gene+conversion+between+arms+of+palindromes+in+human+and+ape+Y+chromosomes.">Abundant gene conversion between arms of palindromes in human and ape Y chromosomes.</a> Nature. 423, 873-876 (2003).</li><li>Graves, J. A., Koina, E., Sankovic, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+the+gene+content+of+human+sex+chromosomes+evolved.">How the gene content of human sex chromosomes evolved.</a> Curr Op Gen Develop. 16, 219-224 (2006).</li><li>Leem, Y. E., 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=Retrotransposon+Tf1+is+targeted+to+Pol+II+promoters+by+transcription+activators.">Retrotransposon Tf1 is targeted to Pol II promoters by transcription activators.</a> Mol Cell. 30, 98-107 (2008).</li><li>Guo, Y., Levin, H. L. <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+sequencing+of+retrotransposon+integration+provides+a+saturated+profile+of+target+activity+in+Schizosaccharomyces+pombe.">High-throughput sequencing of retrotransposon integration provides a saturated profile of target activity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.</a> Genome Res. 20, 239-248 (2010).</li><li>Dai, J., Xie, W., Brady, T. L., Gao, J., Voytas, D. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phosphorylation+regulates+integration+of+the+yeast+Ty5+retrotransposon+into+heterochromatin.">Phosphorylation regulates integration of the yeast Ty5 retrotransposon into heterochromatin.</a> Mol Cell. 27, 289-299 (2007).</li><li>McClintock, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+origin+and+behavior+of+mutable+loci+in+maize.">The origin and behavior of mutable loci in maize.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 36, 344-355 (1950).</li><li>Fernandez, L., Torregrosa, L., Segura, V., Bouquet, A., Martinez-Zapater, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transposon-induced+gene+activation+as+a+mechanism+generating+cluster+shape+somatic+variation+in+grapevine.">Transposon-induced gene activation as a mechanism generating cluster shape somatic variation in grapevine.</a> Plant J Cell Mol Biol. 61, 545-557 (2010).</li><li>Garcia-Perez, J. 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=Epigenetic+silencing+of+engineered+L1+retrotransposition+events+in+human+embryonic+carcinoma+cells.">Epigenetic silencing of engineered L1 retrotransposition events in human embryonic carcinoma cells.</a> Nature. 466 (7307), 769-773 (2010).</li><li>Rodic, 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=Retrotransposon+insertions+in+the+clonal+evolution+of+pancreatic+ductual+adenocarcinoma.">Retrotransposon insertions in the clonal evolution of pancreatic ductual adenocarcinoma.</a> Nat Med. 21 (9), (2015).</li></ol>

Methodologies such as whole genome sequencing, inverse PCR and southern blotting have been employed to study L1 retrotransposition. Although these methodologies are extremely valuable in locating where L1 insertions occur within genomes, a confounding challenge for all of them is the need for in-silico programing to reassemble sequences. The FISH methodology described here is designed to complement these methods, especially in the case of studies requiring analyses of ectopic L1 retrot...

Human Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 (Line-1 or L1) is an autonomous mobile element that propagates within the genome through a &#34;copy and paste&#34; retrotransposition mechanism. A typical human L1 is ~6 kb long and consists of a 5&#39;UTR (Untranslated Region) that serves as a promoter, two open reading frames (ORFs): L1-ORF1 and L1-ORF2, and a 3&#39;UTR with a polyA tail. L1-ORF1 protein has three distinct domains: a coil-coil domain, RNA recognition Motif and C-terminal domain, while L1-ORF2 protein has endonuclease, reverse transcriptase and cysteine rich domains1,2,3,4,5. L1-ORF1 exhibits nucleic acid chaperone activities, while L1-ORF2 provides enzymatic activities, with both proteins required for retrotransposition1,2,6.
A cycle of L1 retrotransposition starts with transcription from the 5&#39;UTR of L1 bicistronic mRNA by RNA polymerase II, translocation into the cytoplasm, and translation. In the cytoplasm, L1-ORF1 exhibits either cis-binding where it packages its own RNA or trans-binding where it packages other RNAs (i.e., SINE/SVAs/pseudogenes) to form a ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP) with L1-ORF2p7,8. RNPs translocate into the nucleus where the endonuclease activity of L1-ORF2p nicks genomic DNA (gDNA) to expose an OH- group9, that is in turn used by reverse transcriptase to prime and reverse synthesize RNA to DNA from the 3&#39; end. During reverse synthesis, the second strand of DNA is nicked 7-20 bp from the original nick site to create staggered breaks which are filled to form the signature L1 insertion sequences (e.g., TTTTAA) called target site duplications (TSD)9,10. This process is known as target prime reverse transcription (TPRT) and leads to insertion of full or truncated copies of L1/other DNAs with TSDs at both ends of the inserted sequence. L1 retrotransposition has also been shown to be mediated through TPRT-like non-homologous end-joining in some cells types11.
The L1 retrotransposition vector employed in our studies is non-episomal and consists of tagged L1-ORF1&#38;2p driven by combined CMV-L1-5&#39;UTR promoters (Figure 1)12. Earlier versions of this construct have been described in studies using yeast and human cell cultures13,14,15. Two distinct CMV promoters located at the 5&#39; and 3&#39; ends of the vector, with the 3&#39; end placed in reverse orientation to drive expression of neomycin after splicing and integration. The retrotransposition indicator cassette at the 3&#39; end consists of a neomycin gene inserted antisense to L1-ORFs and rendered inactive by separation into two halves by a globin intron with spliced donor (SD) and spliced acceptor (SA) sites (Figure 1). Upon integration into a chromosome, L1 is transcribed from the common promoter to produce an mRNA that consists of a bicistronic mRNA and inactive neomycin mRNA. During RNA processing, the globin intron is spliced out of the neomycin gene to restore a fully functional neomycin gene. The hybrid mRNA is packaged into a RNP in cis and translocated into the nucleus where it is integrated into the genome as either full length or truncated insertions using TPRT.
Here we describe a methodology that uses fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes specifically directed at the spliced neomycin gene (SNeo) to track L1-retrotransposiition patterns and insertion rates at the single nucleus level. The efficiency and specificity of detection was confirmed using retrotransposition competent and incompetent constructs and probes to detect SNeo or the neomycin and globin intron junction16. This methodology accounts for some of the shortcomings of cell culture based retrotransposition assays, such as multiple insertions, colony resistance and favorable clone expansion.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Labeling Probes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Go Tag DNA polymerase</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>M3178</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GO Tag 10X colorless buffer</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>M3178</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Individual dNTP</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>DNTP10</td>
			<td>Adjust the concentration of dATP, dGTP, dCTP to 2mM and dTTP to 1.5mM&#160; in nuclease free water.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;dUTP-16-Biotin (0.5mM)</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>11093070910</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dUTP-FITC (0.5mM)</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>R0101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dUTP-CY3 (0.5mM)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>GEPA53022</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MIRUS FISH Labeling Kit</td>
			<td>MIRUS</td>
			<td>MIR3625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MIRUS FISH Labeling Kit</td>
			<td>MIRUS</td>
			<td>MIR3225</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NucleoSpin PCR Clean-Up kit&#160;</td>
			<td>Qiagen</td>
			<td>1410/0030</td>
			<td>Any PCR clean reagent can be used in place of NucleoSpin PCR Clean Up Kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PCR Machine</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Any Thermocycler machine can be used to amplify the label product.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agarose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A9539</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Preparing chromosome Spreads.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Colcemid&#160;</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>15212-012</td>
			<td>Add Colcemid directly to growth media&#160; to a final concentration of 0.4 &#181;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1M KCl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P9541</td>
			<td>Dilute 1M KCl solution to 75 mM solution to make Hypotonic Solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carnoy Fixative Solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Mix 3 volumes of methanol and 1 volume of acetic acid to make Carnoy Fixative Solution. Make Fresh everytime.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>322415</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>320099</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hoechst-33342</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>62249</td>
			<td>Dissolve Hoechst-33342 in PBS to final concentration of 1 mg/mL.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diamond Point Marker</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>750</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Frosted Slides</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>2951-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>R001100</td>
			<td>To detech cells, incubate cell in Trypsin for 5 mins and inactive with equal volume of complete media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover slides&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48366067</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coplin Jars</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>107</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Heat Block</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Any heat block can be used for this purpose, though blocks fitted for heating slides are recommended.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Beaker (600ml)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>CLS1003600</td>
			<td>Fill the beaker with water, heat to boil, use the hot steam to burst chromosomes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon Microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>125690</td>
			<td>Any microscope can be used to look at spread quality.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reagents and Materials for FISH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trisodium citrate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S1804</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Chroride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S3014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Formamide</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F9037</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween-20</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F1379</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Detran Sulfate</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D8906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SDS</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>L3771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Salmon Sperm DNA</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>15632-011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A8531</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HCl (N)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>38283</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethyl Alcohol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>459844</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>322415</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DPBS</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>14190-250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaOH</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S8045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rnase A</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>R4642</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pepsin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6887</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde (PFA)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hoechst-33342</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>62249</td>
			<td>Dissolve Hoechst-33342 in PBS to final concentration of 1 mg/mL.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rubber Cement/Cytobond Sealant&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>2020-00-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Seven Coplin Jars</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>107</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160; Dark Humidified chamber</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>CLS2551</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cover slides&#160;</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48366067</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dry Digital Heat Block</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>13259</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Fluorescence Microscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20X Saline-Sodium Citrate (20X SSC)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Combine 175 g of NaCl, and 88.2 g of trisodium citrate with 800 mL of molecular grade H2O. Stir while adjusting to pH 7. Once the all salts dissolve, adjust the volume to 1 L and filter through 0.22 &#181;m Filter paper. Store at 4 &#176;C.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;1mg/mL of Rnase A</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dilute 20X SSC buffer to 2X SSC buffer. Dissolve RNase A in 2X SSC buffer to a final concentration of 1 mg/mL. Make fresh solution every time.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1% Pepsin</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve&#160; pepsin (W/V) in 10 mM HCl to a final concentration of 1 % solution. Make fresh every time.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4% Paraformaldehyde (4% PFA)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Weigh 4.0 g of PFA in fume hood, add 50 mL of 1xPBS, heat to 60 &#176;C while stirring and adjust the pH with drops of NaOH until all PFA dissolves and the solution becomes clear. Adjust the volume to 100 mL, filter through 0.22 &#181;m Filter paper and store 5 mL aliquots at -20 &#176;C. Thaw aliquot of PFA at 37 &#176;C for 10-15 min for subsequent uses.&#160; Adjust filter size depending on amount of paraformaldehyde.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wash Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Combine 100 mL of Formamide (20%) with 2.5 mL of 20X SSC, adjust to pH 7 with 1.0 M HCl and bring the volume to 500 mL with molecular grade H2O.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hybridization Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Combine 50% formamide, 10% dextran sulfate, 0.1% SDS, and 300 ng/mL Salmon Sperm DNA in 2X SSC buffer.&#160; Amount of Formamide determine how focused chromatids are, titrate the amount&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Detection Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dilute 20X SSC buffer to 4X and add 0.2% Tween-20 to make detection buffer.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blocking Buffer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Combine 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) with 0.2% Tween-20 in 4X SSC buffer.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dehydrating Solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Make 70%, 80%, and 95% ethanol solutions.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

analysis of line-1 retrotransposition at the single nucleus level

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (Line-1 or L1) accounts for approximately 17% of the DNA present in the human genome. While the majority of L1s are inactive due to 5' truncations, ~80-100 of these elements remain retrotransposition competent and propagate to different locations throughout the genome via RNA intermediates. While older L1s are believed to target AT rich regions of the genome, the chromosomal targets of newer, more active L1s remain poorly defined. Here we describe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methodology that can be used to track patterns of L1 insertion and rates of ectopic L1 incorporation at the single nucleus level. In these experiments, fluorescein isothiocyanate/cyanine-3 (FITC/CY3) labeled neomycin probes were employed to track L1 retrotransposition in vitro in HepG2 cells stably expressing ectopic L1. This methodology prevents errors in the estimation of rates of retrotransposition posed by toxicity and account for the occurrence of multiple insertions into a single nucleus.

A schematic diagram of the L1 retrotransposition vector is presented in Figure 1. The vector consists of a neomycin gene in antisense orientation to L1 ORFs that is interrupted by a globin intron in sense orientation and sandwiched by SD and SA sites. When stably integrated into a chromosome, L1 mRNA is transcribed from the combined CMV and L1-5&#39;UTR promoter (Figure 1). During RNA processing, the globin intron is spliced out...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level at JoVE.com

Analysis of LINE-1 Retrotransposition at the Single Nucleus Level

Here we employ FISH methodology to track LINE-1 retrotransposition at the single nuclei level in chromosome spreads of HepG2 cell lines stably expressing synthetic LINE-1.

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (Line-1 or L1) accounts for approximately 17% of the DNA present in the human genome. While the majority of L1s are ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to visualize and analyze L-1 retrotransposition rates and patterns at the single nucleus level using fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH. The major advantage of this methodology is the fact that it allows the experimentalist to avoid over-or underestimation of rates and patterns of retrotransposition, and when complemented with other methodologies, allows for the study of L-1 retrotransposition at the single nuclei level. Performing this procedure today is Dr.Pasano Bojang, a senior fellow in the laboratory.To begin, after preparing a 0.7%to 1%agarose gel in TAE buffer according to the text protocol, use CY3 or FITC to label the SNeo probe and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour according to the manufacturer's protocol. Mix the labeled SNeo probe solution with 1X DNA loading buffer and load into the wells of the agarose gel. Then run the gel at 75 to 100 volts for 15 to 20 minutes.Using a UV illuminator, visualize the probe band. And with a clean blade, cut the labeled SNeo probe from the gel. Then use a PCR cleanup kit according to the manufacturer's protocol to solubilize and purify the SNeo probe.After purification, rerun five microliters of SNeo labeled probe with an unlabeled SNeo probe on a 0.7%agarose gel to confirm the size increase and loss of signal intensity. To quantify the amount of labeled SNeo probe, measure the absorbance at 260 nanometers and dilute the SNeo probe to 10 nanograms per microliter aliquots in nuclease-free water. Store the aliquots at negative 20 degrees Celsius.After generating stable clones expressing retrotransposition-competent L-1, or vector backbone, grow HepG2 cells stably expressing the control, or L-1, vector. Add 0.4 micrograms per milliliter of colcemid to the culture medium. And incubate for 90 minutes to arrest cells at metaphase.Use 10 milliliters of 1X Dulbecco's PBS, or DPBS, to wash the cells two times. Then add 0.25%trypsin solution and incubate for five minutes. Media containing 10%FBS was added to inactivate the trypsin.Next, transfer the cells to a 15 milliliter tube and centrifuge at 1, 000 Gs and four degrees Celsius for two minutes. Then aspirate the medium from the cell pellet and use DPBS to wash the cells. Aspirate all but 200 microliters of DPBS and use it to resuspend the cells by flicking or gentle pipetting to ensure cells are mixed well and contain no clumps.While rotating the tube horizontally, in a drop-wise manner, add five milliliters of prewarmed hypotonic solution and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes. Centrifuge the cells at 120 Gs and four degrees Celsius for five minutes. Then remove all but 200 microliters of hypotonic solution.Wash with fixative solution three times, leaving approximately 200 microliters of fixative solution in the cells between washes. After the three washes, check that the pellet is visibly white and swollen. Then, with 200 microliters of Carnoy fixative solution, resuspend the pellet, and use the fixative to make the following dilutions of the resuspended cells.Drop 10 microliters of each dilution onto a dry, clean slide from approximately one centimeter above, and immediately expose the spread-free side of the slide to hot steam from boiling water for 30 seconds. After drying the spreads at room temperature, stain with DAPI-containing mounting medium and mount a cover slip. Following the incubation, use DPBS to wash the slides three times.To view the spreads, use a fluorescence-based contrast microscope at 40X magnification. After optimizing spread preparation, it is not necessary to stain them. To mark good spreads, use a diamond point marker on the opposite side of the slide.To stabilize and dehydrate metaphase chromosome spreads, apply 200 microliters of RNase A to the samples, and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour. With 2X SSC, wash the slides two times for five minutes each, and use 10 millimolar HCl to rinse the samples. Then add 1%pepsin to the spreads and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.After using deionized water to rinse the slides, use 2X SSC to wash the samples two times for five minutes each. Then add 4%paraformaldehyde to the spreads and incubate for 10 minutes, before carrying out two additional 2X SSC buffer washes. Following the SSC washes, dehydrate the spreads by incubating the samples for two minutes each in the following ethanol series.Add 30 nanograms of SNeo to hybridization buffer and heat at 72 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, before cooling at room temperature for two minutes. Then, pipette 30 microliters of the SNeo probe onto each spread, and use a cover slip to cover the sample. With rubber cement, seal the edges, ensuring no bubble formation occurs.Keep the slide on a heat block at 72 degrees Celsius for five minutes. Then gradually drop the temperature to 37 degrees Celsius. Incubate overnight in the dark in a humidified chamber at 37 degrees Celsius.To apply a secondary antibody, begin by immersing the slides in 2X SSC buffer to remove the cover slips. Then immerse the slides in 2X SSC at 45 degrees Celsius for five minutes to wash them, before transferring the samples to wash buffer and washing two times at 45 degrees Celsius for five minutes each. Next, immerse the slides in 0.1X SSC buffer at 45 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.Then wash the slides in 2X SSC buffer at 45 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. After cooling the slides to room temperature, for direct labeled probes, use 2X SSC to wash the slides two times for five minutes each. Equilibrate the slides in detection buffer for 10 minutes at RT.Then add DAPI-containing mounting medium and counterstain the samples for 10 minutes.Mount a cover slip and use nail polish to seal the edges. Finally, analyze L-1 retrotransposition using a fluorescence microscope at 40X magnification. As shown here, the density of metaphase chromosome spreads was determined by preparing dilutions and evaluating each spread for density, distribution, and distance of spreads from the nucleus.Low-density spreads with even distribution were chosen for subsequent analysis. These images represent chromosome spreads that were stained with Hoechst dye DAPI, and the spread qualities were evaluated based on the length of chromosomes, the roundness of the spreads, and inter-chromosome distance. If cells were incubated for a short period in hypotonic solution, chromosome spreads became tightly knotted and individual chromosomes were difficult to visualize.However, longer incubation in hypotonic solution resulted in rupture of the nuclei, scattering of chromosomes, and/or loss of chromosomes. Longer incubations in colcemid increased the number of cells in metaphase, but led to condensation of chromosomes. As illustrated here, a 90-minute incubation in colcemid, 20 minutes in hypotonic solution at 37 degrees Celsius, and the use of a hot steam to burst the cells were found to be optimal conditions for the generation of high-quality spreads.In this experiment, chromosome spreads were stained for L-1 retrotransposition using probes that target SNeo. The probe was labeled with both FITC and CY3 to show that in both cases, L-1 retrotransposition is seen only in cells expressing wild-type L-1. Once mastered, this experiment can actually be completed in six to eight hours, especially if hybridization times are caught from two to four hours and the technology is performed properly.While performing the technology, it is important to wash thoroughly, to optimize hybridization times and to chemically label the dNTP probes to avoid contamination. In order to answer additional questions like chromosomal location of the insertion, additional technologies like L-1 sequencing and G-banding can be completed. After watching this video, you will have a good understanding of how to label the L-1 probes, carry out the chromosomal spreads, and measure patterns and rates of L-1 retrotransposition utilizing fluorescence in situ hybridization technology.This technology has paved the way for the study of patterns of L-1 retrotransposition as well as sites of L-1 insertion. It is important to remember that when working with toxic agents, biological reagents, as well as ultraviolet light, precautions such as wearing gloves and protective gear is essential.

analysis-of-line-1-retrotransposition-at-the-single-nucleus-level

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Method for Measurement of Viral Fusion Kinetics at the Single Particle Level

Membrane fusion is an essential step during entry of enveloped viruses into cells. Conventional fusion assays typically report on a large number of fusion events, making it difficult to quantitatively analyze the sequence of the molecular steps involved. We have developed an in vitro, two-color fluorescence assay to monitor kinetics of single virus particles fusing with a target bilayer on an essentially fluid support.
Influenza viral particles are incubated with a green lipophilic fluorophore to stain the membrane and a red hydrophilic fluorophore to stain the viral interior. We deposit a ganglioside-containing lipid bilayer on the dextran-functionilized glass surface of a flow cell, incubate the viral particles on the planar bilayer and image the fluorescence of a 100 x 100 &mu;m2 area, containing several hundreds of particles, on a CCD camera. By imaging both the red and green fluorescence, we can simultaneously monitor the behavior of the membrane dye (green) and the aqueous content (red) of the particles.
Upon lowering the pH to a value below the fusion pH, the particles will fuse with the membrane. Hemifusion, the merging of the outer leaflet of the viral membrane with the outer leaflet of the target membrane, will be visible as a sudden change in the green fluorescence of a particle. Upon the subsequent fusion of the two remaining distal leaflets a pore will be formed and the red-emitting fluorophore in the viral particle will be released under the target membrane. This event will give rise to a decrease of the red fluorescence of individual particles. Finally, the integrated fluorescence from a pH-sensitive fluorophore that is embedded in the target membrane reports on the exact time of the pH drop.
From the three fluorescence-time traces, all the important events (pH drop, lipid mixing upon hemifusion, content mixing upon pore formation) can now be extracted in a straightforward manner and for every particle individually. By collecting the elapsed times for the various transitions for many individual particles in histograms, we can determine the lifetimes of the corresponding intermediates. Even hidden intermediates that do not have a direct fluorescent observable can be visualized directly from these histograms.

We present an in vitro, two-color fluorescence assay to visualize the fusion of single virus particles with a fluid target bilayer. By labeling viral particles with fluorophores that differentially stain the viral membrane and its interior, we are able to monitor the kinetics of hemifusion and pore formation.

Membrane fusion is an essential step during entry of enveloped viruses into cells. Conventional fusion assays typically report on a large number of fusion ...

Direct Analysis of Single Cells by Mass Spectrometry at Atmospheric Pressure

Analysis of biochemicals in single cells is important for understanding cell metabolism, cell cycle, adaptation, disease states, etc. Even the same cell types exhibit heterogeneous biochemical makeup depending on their physiological conditions and interactions with the environment. Conventional methods of mass spectrometry (MS) used for the analysis of biomolecules in single cells rely on extensive sample preparation. Removing the cells from their natural environment and extensive sample processing could lead to changes in the cellular composition. Ambient ionization methods enable the analysis of samples in their native environment and without extensive sample preparation.1 The techniques based on the mid infrared (mid-IR) laser ablation of biological materials at 2.94 &mu;m wavelength utilize the sudden excitation of water that results in phase explosion.2 Ambient ionization techniques based on mid-IR laser radiation, such as laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) and atmospheric pressure infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (AP IR-MALDI), have successfully demonstrated the ability to directly analyze water-rich tissues and biofluids at atmospheric pressure.3-11 In LAESI the mid-IR laser ablation plume that mostly consists of neutral particulate matter from the sample coalesces with highly charged electrospray droplets to produce ions. Recently, mid-IR ablation of single cells was performed by delivering the mid-IR radiation through an etched fiber. The plume generated from this ablation was postionized by an electrospray enabling the analysis of diverse metabolites in single cells by LAESI-MS.12 This article describes the detailed protocol for single cell analysis using LAESI-MS. The presented video demonstrates the analysis of a single epidermal cell from the skin of an Allium cepa bulb. The schematic of the system is shown in Figure 1. A representative example of single cell ablation and a LAESI mass spectrum from the cell are provided in Figure 2.

Single cell analysis is performed by mass spectrometry on plant and animal cells at atmospheric pressure by using a sharpened optical fiber to sample the cells for laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) mass spectrometry.

Analysis of biochemicals in single cells is important for understanding cell metabolism, cell cycle, adaptation, disease states, etc. Even the same cell ...

Studying Proteolysis of Cyclin B at the Single Cell Level in Whole Cell Populations

Equal distribution of chromosomes between the two daughter cells during cell division is a prerequisite for guaranteeing genetic stability 1. Inaccuracies during chromosome separation are a hallmark of malignancy and associated with progressive disease 2-4. The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a mitotic surveillance mechanism that holds back cells at metaphase until every single chromosome has established a stable bipolar attachment to the mitotic spindle1. The SAC exerts its function by interference with the activating APC/C subunit Cdc20 to block proteolysis of securin and cyclin B and thus chromosome separation and mitotic exit. Improper attachment of chromosomes prevents silencing of SAC signaling and causes continued inhibition of APC/CCdc20 until the problem is solved to avoid chromosome missegregation, aneuploidy and malignant growths1.
Most studies that addressed the influence of improper chromosomal attachment on APC/C-dependent proteolysis took advantage of spindle disruption using depolymerizing or microtubule-stabilizing drugs to interfere with chromosomal attachment to microtubules. Since interference with microtubule kinetics can affect the transport and localization of critical regulators, these procedures bear a risk of inducing artificial effects 5.
To study how the SAC interferes with APC/C-dependent proteolysis of cyclin B during mitosis in unperturbed cell populations, we established a histone H2-GFP-based system which allowed the simultaneous monitoring of metaphase alignment of mitotic chromosomes and proteolysis of cyclin B 6.
To depict proteolytic profiles, we generated a chimeric cyclin B reporter molecule with a C-terminal SNAP moiety 6 (Figure 1). In a self-labeling reaction, the SNAP-moiety is able to form covalent bonds with alkylguanine-carriers (SNAP substrate) 7,8 (Figure 1). SNAP substrate molecules are readily available and carry a broad spectrum of different fluorochromes. Chimeric cyclin B-SNAP molecules become labeled upon addition of the membrane-permeable SNAP substrate to the growth medium 7 (Figure 1). Following the labeling reaction, the cyclin B-SNAP fluorescence intensity drops in a pulse-chase reaction-like manner and fluorescence intensities reflect levels of cyclin B degradation 6 (Figure 1). Our system facilitates the monitoring of mitotic APC/C-dependent proteolysis in large numbers of cells (or several cell populations) in parallel. Thereby, the system may be a valuable tool to identify agents/small molecules that are able to interfere with proteolytic activity at the metaphase to anaphase transition. Moreover, as synthesis of cyclin B during mitosis has recently been suggested as an important mechanism in fostering a mitotic block in mice and humans by keeping cyclin B expression levels stable 9,10, this system enabled us to analyze cyclin B proteolysis as one element of a balanced equilibrium 6.

Metaphase to anaphase transition is triggered through anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C)-dependent ubiquitination and subsequent destruction of cyclin B. Here, we established a system which, following pulse-chase labeling, allows monitoring cyclin B proteolysis in entire cell populations and facilitates the detection of interference by the mitotic checkpoint.

Equal distribution of chromosomes between the two daughter cells during cell division is a prerequisite for guaranteeing genetic stability 1. Inaccuracies ...

Analysis of Global RNA Synthesis at the Single Cell Level following Hypoxia

Hypoxia or lowering of the oxygen availability is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. At the molecular level, cells initiate a particular transcriptional program in order to mount an appropriate and coordinated cellular response. The cell possesses several oxygen sensor enzymes that require molecular oxygen as cofactor for their activity. These range from prolyl-hydroxylases to histone demethylases. The majority of studies analyzing cellular responses to hypoxia are based on cellular populations and average studies, and as such single cell analysis of hypoxic cells are seldom performed. Here we describe a method of analysis of global RNA synthesis at the single cell level in hypoxia by using Click-iT RNA imaging kits in an oxygen controlled workstation, followed by microscopy analysis and quantification.&nbsp; Using cancer cells exposed to hypoxia for different lengths of time, RNA is labeled and measured in each cell. This analysis allows the visualization of temporal and cell-to-cell changes in global RNA synthesis following hypoxic stress.

We describe a technique for analysis of global RNA synthesis in hypoxia using imaging. Click-chemistry labeling of RNA has not previously been performed under hypoxia and allows visualization of global RNA changes at the single cell level. This approach complements the existing averaged RNA techniques, allowing direct visualization of cell-to-cell changes in global RNA synthesis.

Hypoxia or lowering of the oxygen availability is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. At the molecular level, cells initiate a ...

CUBIC Protocol Visualizes Protein Expression at Single Cell Resolution in Whole Mount Skin Preparations

The skin is essential for our survival. The outer epidermal layer consists of the interfollicular epidermis, which is a stratified squamous epithelium covering most of our body, and epidermal appendages such as the hair follicles and sweat glands. The epidermis undergoes regeneration throughout life and in response to injury. This is enabled by K14-expressing basal epidermal stem/progenitor cell populations that are tightly regulated by multiple regulatory mechanisms active within the epidermis and between epidermis and dermis. This article describes a simple method to clarify full thickness mouse skin biopsies, and visualize K14 protein expression patterns, Ki67 labeled proliferating cells, Nile Red labeled sebocytes, and DAPI nuclear labeling at single cell resolution in 3D. This method enables accurate assessment and quantification of skin anatomy and pathology, and of abnormal epidermal phenotypes in genetically modified mouse lines. The CUBIC protocol is the best method available to date to investigate molecular and cellular interactions in full thickness skin biopsies at single cell resolution.

This report describes a CUBIC protocol to clarify full thickness mouse skin biopsies, and visualize protein expression patterns, proliferating cells, and sebocytes at the single cell resolution in 3D. This method enables accurate assessment of skin anatomy and pathology, and of abnormal epidermal phenotypes in genetically modified mouse lines.

The skin is essential for our survival. The outer epidermal layer consists of the interfollicular epidermis, which is a stratified squamous epithelium ...

Analysis of Beta-cell Function Using Single-cell Resolution Calcium Imaging in Zebrafish Islets

Pancreatic beta-cells respond to increasing blood glucose concentrations by secreting the hormone insulin. The dysfunction of beta-cells leads to hyperglycemia and severe, life-threatening consequences. Understanding how the beta-cells operate under physiological conditions and what genetic and environmental factors might cause their dysfunction could lead to better treatment options for diabetic patients. The ability to measure calcium levels in beta-cells serves as an important indicator of beta-cell function, as the influx of calcium ions triggers insulin release. Here we describe a protocol for monitoring the glucose-stimulated calcium influx in zebrafish beta-cells by using GCaMP6s, a genetically encoded sensor of calcium. The method allows monitoring the intracellular calcium dynamics with single-cell resolution in ex vivo mounted islets. The glucose-responsiveness of beta-cells within the same islet can be captured simultaneously under different glucose concentrations, which suggests the presence of functional heterogeneity among zebrafish beta-cells. Furthermore, the technique provides high temporal and spatial resolution, which reveals the oscillatory nature of the calcium influx upon glucose stimulation. Our approach opens the doors to use the zebrafish as a model to investigate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to beta-cell function and dysfunction.

Beta-cell functionality is important for blood-glucose homeostasis, which is evaluated at single-cell resolution using a genetically encoded reporter for calcium influx.

Pancreatic beta-cells respond to increasing blood glucose concentrations by secreting the hormone insulin. The dysfunction of beta-cells leads to ...

Visualizing the Interaction Between the Qdot-labeled Protein and Site-specifically Modified &#955; DNA at the Single Molecule Level

The fluorescence microscopy&#160;has made great contributions in dissecting the mechanisms of complex biological processes at the single molecule level. In single molecule assays for studying DNA-protein interactions, there are two important factors for consideration: the DNA substrate with enough length for easy observation and labeling a protein with a suitable fluorescent probe. 48.5 kb &#955; DNA is a good candidate for the DNA substrate. Quantum dots (Qdots), as a class of fluorescent probes, allow long-time observation (minutes to hours) and high-quality image acquisition. In this paper, we present a protocol to study DNA-protein interactions at the single-molecule level, which includes preparing a site-specifically modified &#955; DNA and labeling a target protein with streptavidin-coated Qdots. For a proof of concept, we choose ORC (origin recognition complex) in budding yeast as a protein of interest and visualize its interaction with an ARS (autonomously replicating sequence) using TIRFM. Compared with other fluorescent probes, Qdots have obvious advantages in single molecule studies due to its high stability against photobleaching, but it should be noted that this property limits its application in quantitative assays.

Visualizing the Interaction Between the Qdot-labeled Protein and Site-specifically Modified &amp;#955; DNA at the Single Molecule Level

Here, we present a protocol to study DNA-protein interactions by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) using a site-specifically modified &#955; DNA substrate and a Quantum-dot labeled protein.

The fluorescence microscopy&#160;has made great contributions in dissecting the mechanisms of complex biological processes at the single molecule level. ...

Probing mRNA Kinetics in Space and Time in Escherichia coli using Two-Color Single-Molecule Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) allows for counting the absolute number of mRNAs in individual cells. Here, we describe an application of smFISH to measure the rates of transcription and mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli. As smFISH is based on fixed cells, we perform smFISH at multiple time points during a time-course experiment, i.e., when cells are undergoing synchronized changes upon induction or repression of gene expression. At each time point, sub-regions of an mRNA are spectrally distinguished to probe transcription elongation and premature termination. The outcome of this protocol also allows for analyzing intracellular localization of mRNAs and heterogeneity in mRNA copy numbers among cells. Using this protocol many samples (~50) can be processed within 8 h, like the amount of time needed for just a few samples. We discuss how to apply this protocol to study the transcription and degradation kinetics of different mRNAs in bacterial cells.

Probing mRNA Kinetics in Space and Time in Escherichia coli using Two-Color Single-Molecule Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

This protocol describes an application of single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) to measure the in vivo kinetics of mRNA synthesis and degradation.

Single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) allows for counting the absolute number of mRNAs in individual cells. Here, we describe an ...

Nuclei Isolation from Adult Mouse Kidney for Single-Nucleus RNA-Sequencing

The kidneys regulate diverse biological processes such as water, electrolyte, and acid-base homeostasis. Physiological functions of the kidney are executed by multiple cell types arranged in a complex architecture across the corticomedullary axis of the organ. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics have accelerated the understanding of cell type-specific gene expression in renal physiology and disease. However, enzyme-based tissue dissociation protocols, which are frequently utilized for single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), require mostly fresh (non-archived) tissue, introduce transcriptional stress responses, and favor the selection of abundant cell types of the kidney cortex resulting in an underrepresentation of cells of the medulla.
Here, we present a protocol that avoids these problems. The protocol is based on nuclei isolation at 4 &#176;C from frozen kidney tissue. Nuclei are isolated from a central piece of the mouse kidney comprised of the cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. This reduces the overrepresentation of cortical cells typical for whole-kidney samples for the benefit of medullary cells such that data will represent the entire corticomedullary axis at sufficient abundance. The protocol is simple, rapid, and adaptable and provides a step towards the standardization of single-nuclei transcriptomics in kidney research.

Here, we present a protocol to isolate high-quality nuclei from frozen mouse kidneys that improve the representation of medullary kidney cell types and avoids the gene expression artifacts from enzymatic tissue dissociation.

The kidneys regulate diverse biological processes such as water, electrolyte, and acid-base homeostasis. Physiological functions of the kidney are ...

Isolation and Transcriptome Analysis of Plant Cell Types

In multicellular organisms, developmental programming and environmental responses can be highly divergent in different cell types or even within cells, which is known as cellular heterogeneity. In recent years, single-cell and cell-type isolation combined with next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques have become important tools for studying biological processes at single-cell resolution. However, isolating plant cells is relatively more difficult due to the presence of plant cell walls, which limits the application of single-cell approaches in plants. This protocol describes a robust procedure for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based single-cell and cell-type isolation with plant cells, which is suitable for downstream multi-omics analysis and other studies. Using Arabidopsis root fluorescent marker lines, we demonstrate how particular cell types, such as xylem-pole pericycle cells, lateral root initial cells, lateral root cap cells, cortex cells, and endodermal cells, are isolated. Furthermore, an effective downstream transcriptome analysis method using Smart-seq2 is also provided. The cell isolation method and transcriptome analysis techniques can be adapted to other cell types and plant species and have broad application potential in plant science.

The feasibility and effectiveness of high-throughput scRNA-seq methods herald a single-cell era in plant research. Presented here is a robust and complete procedure for isolating specific Arabidopsis thaliana root cell types and subsequent transcriptome library construction and analysis.

In multicellular organisms, developmental programming and environmental responses can be highly divergent in different cell types or even within cells, ...