Bucknell University

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Developmental Biology

Micromanipulation of Chromosomes in Insect Spermatocytes

Nicolas K.H. Lin¹, Ryder Nance², Jane Szybist², Alan Cheville², Leocadia V. Paliulis³

¹Program in Cell Biology/Biochemistry, Bucknell University, ²Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bucknell University, ³Biology Department, Bucknell University

In this protocol, we describe the selection and preparation of appropriate cells for micromanipulation and the use of a piezoelectric micromanipulator to reposition chromosomes within those cells.

Chemistry

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides

Tyler J. Fulton¹, Katherine M. Townsend², Michael R. Krout²

¹Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, ²Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University

A simple and practical protocol for the efficient conjugate addition of functionalized monoorganozinc bromides to cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyls to furnish all-carbon quaternary centers was developed.

Biochemistry

Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors

Rebecca Switzer¹, Katie A. Ward², Jessica Medrano²

¹Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, ²Program in Cell Biology/Biochemistry, Bucknell University

DNA methyltransferases are potential cancer drug targets. Here, a protocol is presented to assess small molecules for DNA methyltransferase inhibition. This assay utilizes an endonuclease to couple DNA methylation to fluorescence generation and allows for enzyme activity to be monitored in real time.