Siamo grati alla Environmental Services Association Education Trust, la biologia sintetica a Cambridge fondo Synbio e il Ministero della giustizia sociale e responsabilizzazione, Governo dell&#39;India, per il sostegno finanziario.

<ol>
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H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antialgal,+antibacterial+and+antifungal+activity+of+two+metabolites+produced+and+excreted+by+cyanobacteria+during+growth.">Antialgal, antibacterial and antifungal activity of two metabolites produced and excreted by cyanobacteria during growth.</a> Microbiol Res. 161, 180-186 (2006).</li><li>Scott, S. A., 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=Biodiesel+from+algae:+challenges+and+prospects.">Biodiesel from algae: challenges and prospects.</a> Curr Opin Biotechnol. 21, 277-286 (2010).</li><li>Lea-Smith, D. J., 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=Phycobilisome-deficient+strains+of+Synechocystis+sp.+PCC+6803+have+reduced+size+and+require+carbon-limiting+conditions+to+exhibit+enhanced+productivity.">Phycobilisome-deficient strains of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 have reduced size and require carbon-limiting conditions to exhibit enhanced productivity.</a> Plant Physiol. 165, 705-714 (2014).</li><li>Lea-Smith, D. J., 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=Thylakoid+terminal+oxidases+are+essential+for+the+cyanobacterium+Synechocystis+sp.+PCC+6803+to+survive+rapidly+changing+light+intensities.">Thylakoid terminal oxidases are essential for the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to survive rapidly changing light intensities.</a> Plant Physiol. 162, 484-495 (2013).</li><li>Liu, X., Sheng, J., Curtiss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fatty+acid+production+in+genetically+modified+cyanobacteria.">Fatty acid production in genetically modified cyanobacteria.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 108, 6899-6904 (2011).</li><li>Xu, H., Vavilin, D., Funk, C., Vermaas, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+deletions+of+small+cab-like+proteins+in+the+cyanobacterium+Synechocystis+sp+PCC+6803+-+Consequences+for+pigment+biosynthesis+and+accumulation.">Multiple deletions of small cab-like proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 - Consequences for pigment biosynthesis and accumulation.</a> J Biol Chem. 279, 27971-27979 (2004).</li><li>Castenholz, R. 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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

I passi più critici nella generazione di mutanti non contrassegnate sono: 1) un&#39;attenta progettazione plasmide per garantire solo la regione di destinazione è alterata; 2) garantire che i campioni rimangano axeniche, soprattutto quando coltivate su saccarosio; 3) placcatura cellule per la generazione di mutanti marcati trasformato inizialmente su piastre di agar BG11 privi antibiotici, seguita da aggiunta di agar più antibiotici 24 ore successive; 4) la coltura segnato mutanti per 4 giorni interi prima di placcat...

I cianobatteri sono un phylum evolutivamente antica e diversificata di batteri che si trovano in quasi tutti gli ambienti naturali della Terra. Negli ecosistemi marini sono particolarmente abbondanti e svolgono un ruolo chiave in molti cicli degli elementi nutritivi, che rappresentano circa la metà di fissazione del carbonio 1, la maggior parte dell&#39;azoto fissazione 2 e centinaia di milioni di tonnellate di produzione di idrocarburi 3 negli oceani ogni anno. Cloroplasti, l&#39;organello responsabile per la fotosintesi delle alghe e delle piante eucariotiche, è probabile che si sono evoluti da un cianobatterio che è stato inghiottito da un organismo ospite 4. Cianobatteri sono dimostrati utili organismi modello per lo studio della fotosintesi, trasporto di elettroni 5 e percorsi biochimici, molti dei quali sono conservati nelle piante. Inoltre cianobatteri sono sempre più utilizzati per la produzione di alimenti, biocarburanti 6, elettricità 7 e industriali composti 8, a causa della loro altaghly efficiente conversione di acqua e CO 2 alla biomassa utilizzando l&#39;energia solare 9. Molte specie possono essere coltivate su terreni non coltivabili con sostanze nutritive minime e acqua di mare, il che suggerisce che i cianobatteri potenzialmente potrebbero essere coltivate su larga scala senza compromettere la produzione agricola. Alcune specie sono anche fonti di prodotti naturali, tra cui antifungini, antibatteriche e anti-cancro composti 10,11. La capacità di generare mutanti è la chiave per comprendere la fotosintesi cianobatteri, biochimica e fisiologia, ed essenziale per lo sviluppo di ceppi per uso industriale. La maggior parte degli studi pubblicati generi geneticamente ceppi modificati mediante inserimento di una cassetta di resistenza antibiotica nel sito di interesse. Ciò limita il numero di mutazioni che possono essere introdotte in un ceppo, come solo alcune cassette di resistenza agli antibiotici sono disponibili per l&#39;uso in cianobatteri. I ceppi che contengono geni che conferiscono re antibioticoresistenza non può essere utilizzato per la produzione industriale in vasche aperte, che rischia di essere l&#39;unico mezzo di costo-efficacia per la produzione di biocarburanti e di altri prodotti a basso valore 12. La generazione di mutanti non marcate supera queste limitazioni. mutanti non marcate non contengono DNA estraneo, se non intenzionalmente incluso, e può essere manipolato più volte. Pertanto è possibile generare come molte modifiche in un ceppo lo desideri. Inoltre, gli effetti polari geni a valle del sito di modifica possono essere minimizzati, consentendo la modifica più precisa dell&#39;organismo 13. Per generare ceppi mutanti, plasmidi suicidi contenenti due frammenti di DNA identiche alle regioni nel cromosoma cianobatteri che fiancheggiano il gene da cancellare (definito il 5 &#39;e 3&#39; regioni fiancheggianti) sono prima costruiti. Due geni sono poi inseriti tra le regioni fiancheggianti. Uno di questi codifica una proteina resistenza agli antibiotici; il secondo codifica SACB, che produces levansucrasi, un composto che conferisce sensibilità al saccarosio. Nella prima fase del processo, mutanti marcati, cioè ceppi contenenti alcune DNA estraneo, vengono generati. Il costrutto plasmidico è mescolato con le cellule di cianobatteri e il DNA è occupato naturalmente dall&#39;organismo. I trasformanti sono selezionati dalla crescita su piastre di agar contenenti l&#39;antibiotico appropriato e il genotipo mutante verificata mediante PCR. plasmidi suicidio non può replicare entro il ceppo di interesse. Pertanto eventuali colonie resistenti agli antibiotici risulteranno da un evento di ricombinazione per cui il gene di interesse inserito nel cromosoma. Per generare mutanti non marcati, il mutante contrassegnata viene poi mescolato con un secondo plasmide suicida contenente solo i 5 &#39;e 3&#39; regioni fiancheggianti. Tuttavia, se è necessario l&#39;inserimento di DNA estraneo, un plasmide costituito dal 5 &#39;e 3&#39; delle regioni fiancheggianti con cassette contenenti i geni di interesse inserito tra questi frammenti di DNA, può essere utilizzato. Selection è attraverso la crescita su piastre di agar contenenti saccarosio. Come saccarosio è letale per le cellule quando il prodotto genico SACB è espresso, le uniche cellule che sopravvivono sono quelli in cui si è verificato un secondo evento di ricombinazione, per cui il gene sensibilità saccarosio, oltre al gene di resistenza agli antibiotici, è stato ricombinato fuori cromosoma e sul plasmide. Come conseguenza dello scambio ricombinazione, le regioni fiancheggianti e tutte DNA tra loro sono inseriti nel cromosoma. Abbiamo usato con successo questi metodi per generare mutazioni multiple cromosomiche nello stesso ceppo di Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (di seguito denominato Synechocystis) 13,14, di introdurre mutazioni puntiformi singoli in un gene di interesse e 13 per l&#39;espressione di cassette geniche. Mentre la generazione di fori non marcati è stata dimostrata prima del nostro lavoro in Synechocystis 15,16, un metodo dettagliato, aiutato dauna presentazione visiva delle fasi critiche, non è a disposizione del pubblico. Abbiamo inoltre applicato lo stesso metodo per la generazione di fori evidenziati in un altro modello cianobatterio, Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (di seguito denominato Synechococcus). Questo protocollo fornisce una chiara, semplice metodo per la generazione di mutanti e un rapido protocollo per la validazione e la memorizzazione di questi ceppi.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="645">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:237px;">NaNO3</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S5506</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">MgSO4.7H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">230391</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">CaCl2</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C1016</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">citric acid</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">C0759</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Na2EDTA</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EDT002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">H3BO3</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">339067</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">MnCl2.4H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M3634</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">ZnSO4.7H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Z4750</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Na2MoO4.2H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">331058</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">CuSO4.5H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">209198</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Co(NO3)2.6H2O</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">239267</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ferric ammonium citrate</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">F5879</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">K2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P3786</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Na2CO3</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SODC001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">TES</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T1375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">NaHCO3</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SODH001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HEPES</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">H3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">cyanocobalamin</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">47869</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">Na2S2O3</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">72049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Bacto agar</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">214010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SUC001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Petri dish 90 mm triple vented</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">633185</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">0.2 &#181;m filters</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sartorius</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16534</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">100 mL conical flasks</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Pyrex</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">CON004</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Parafilm M 100 mm x38 m</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Bemis</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">FIL003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Phusion high fidelity DNA polymerase&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Phusion</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">F-530</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Agarose</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Melford</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MB1200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DNA purification kit&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">MoBio</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12100-300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Restriction endonucleases</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">NEB</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">T4 ligase</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">EL0011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Luria Bertani broth</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12795-027</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">MES</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M8250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Kanamycin sulfate</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">60615</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Ampicillin</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A9518</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">GeneJET plasmid miniprep kit</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K0503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">14 mL round-bottom tube</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">BD falcon</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">352059</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">GoTaq G2 Flexi DNA polymerase</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Promega</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M7805</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">425-600 &#181;m glass beads</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8772</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G5516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">DMSO</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D8418</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">Fluorescent bulbs</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Gro-Lux</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">69</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:237px;">HT multitron photobioreactor</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Infors</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

generation of marked and markerless mutants in model cyanobacterial species

Cyanobacteria are ecologically important organisms and potential platforms for production of biofuels and useful industrial products. Genetic manipulation of cyanobacteria, especially model organisms such as Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Synechococcus sp. PCC7002, is a key tool for both basic and applied research. Generation of unmarked mutants, whereby chromosomal alterations are introduced into a strain via insertion of an antibiotic resistance cassette (a manipulatable fragment of DNA containing one or more genes), followed by subsequent removal of this cassette using a negative selectable marker, is a particularly powerful technique. Unmarked mutants can be repeatedly genetically manipulated, allowing as many alterations to be introduced into a strain as desired. In addition, the absence of genes encoding antibiotic resistance proteins in the mutated strain is desirable, as it avoids the possibility of 'escape' of antibiotic resistant organisms into the environment. However, detailed methods for repeated rounds of genetic manipulation of cyanobacteria are not well described in the scientific literature. Here we provide a comprehensive description of this technique, which we have successfully used to generate mutants with multiple deletions, single point mutations within a gene of interest and insertion of novel gene cassettes.

Disegno plasmide è fondamentale per la generazione di successo di entrambi i mutanti marcati e non marcati. Figura 1 è riportato un esempio di plasmide A e B utilizzato per generare una delezione mutanti nei geni Synechocystis cpcC1 e cpcC2 13. In ogni caso le 5 &#39;e 3&#39; regioni fiancheggianti sono circa 900-1.000 bp. regioni fiancheggianti ridotti possono essere utilizzati anche se la più piccola che abbiamo trialed successo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation of Marked and Markerless Mutants in Model Cyanobacterial Species at JoVE.com

Generation of Marked and Markerless Mutants in Model Cyanobacterial Species

Introducing multiple genomic alterations into cyanobacteria is an essential tool in the development of strains for industrial and basic research purposes. We describe a system for generating unmarked mutants in the model cyanobacterial species Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and marked mutants in Synechococcus sp. PCC7002.

Generazione di marcato e markerless Mutanti nel modello di cianobatteri Specie

Cyanobacteria are ecologically important organisms and potential platforms for production of biofuels and useful industrial products. Genetic manipulation ...

generation-marked-markerless-mutants-model-cyanobacterial

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

11.9K Views.  University of Cambridge. Introducing multiple genomic alterations into cyanobacteria is an essential tool in the development of strains for industrial and basic research purposes. We describe a system for generating unmarked mutants in the model cyanobacterial species Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and marked mutants in Synechococcus sp. PCC7002.

Video: Generation of Marked and Markerless Mutants in Model Cyanobacterial Species

Paradigms for Pharmacological Characterization of C. elegans Synaptic Transmission Mutants

The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, has become an expedient model for studying neurotransmission. C. elegans is unique among animal models, as the anatomy and connectivity of its nervous system has been determined from electron micrographs and refined by pharmacological assays. In this video, we describe how two complementary neural stimulants, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, called aldicarb, and a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor antagonist, called pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), may be employed to specifically characterize signaling at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and facilitate our understanding of antagonistic neural circuits.
Of 302 C. elegans neurons, nineteen GABAergic D-type motor neurons innervate body wall muscles (BWMs), while four GABAergic neurons, called RMEs, innervate head muscles. Conversely, thirty-nine motor neurons express the excitatory neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), and antagonize GABA transmission at BWMs to coordinate locomotion. The antagonistic nature of GABAergic and cholinergic motor neurons at body wall NMJs was initially determined by laser ablation and later buttressed by aldicarb exposure. Acute aldicarb exposure results in a time-course or dose-responsive paralysis in wild-type worms. Yet, loss of excitatory ACh transmission confers resistance to aldicarb, as less ACh accumulates at worm NMJs, leading to less stimulation of BWMs. Resistance to aldicarb may be observed with ACh-specific or general synaptic function mutants. Consistent with antagonistic GABA and ACh transmission, loss of GABA transmission, or a failure to negatively regulate ACh release, confers hypersensitivity to aldicarb. Although aldicarb exposure has led to the isolation of numerous worm homologs of neurotransmission genes, aldicarb exposure alone cannot efficiently determine prevailing roles for genes and pathways in specific C. elegans motor neurons. For this purpose, we have introduced a complementary experimental approach, which uses PTZ.
Neurotransmission mutants display clear phenotypes, distinct from aldicarb-induced paralysis, in response to PTZ. Wild-type worms, as well as mutants with specific inabilities to release or receive ACh, do not show apparent sensitivity to PTZ. However, GABA mutants, as well as general synaptic function mutants, display anterior convulsions in a time-course or dose-responsive manner. Mutants that cannot negatively regulate general neurotransmitter release and, thus, secrete excessive amounts of ACh onto BWMs, become paralyzed on PTZ. The PTZ-induced phenotypes of discrete mutant classes indicate that a complementary approach with aldicarb and PTZ exposure paradigms in C. elegans may accelerate our understanding of neurotransmission. Moreover, videos demonstrating how we perform pharmacological assays should establish consistent methods for C. elegans research.

This video demonstrates how to employ two neural stimulants, aldicarb and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), in complementary ways to study synaptic function in the nematode, C. elegans. This complementary approach may also be used to shed light on evolutionarily conserved mechanisms for modulating neuronal synchrony and has implications for epilepsy and seizures.

Paradigmi per la caratterizzazione farmacologica di C. elegans Mutanti trasmissione sinaptica

The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, has become an expedient model for studying neurotransmission. C. elegans is unique among animal models, as the ...

Ricerca

Biologia

Neurocircuit Assays for Seizures in Epilepsy Mutants of Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster is a useful tool for studying seizure like activity. A variety of mutants in which seizures can be induced through either physical shock or electrical stimulation is available for study of various aspects of seizure activity and behavior. All flies, including wild-type, will undergo seizure-like activity if stimulated at a high enough voltage. Seizure like activity is an all-or-nothing response and each genotype has a specific seizure threshold. The seizure threshold of a specific genotype of fly can be altered either by treatment with a drug or by genetic suppression or enhancement. The threshold is easily measured by electrophysiology. Seizure-like activity can be induced via high frequency electrical stimulation delivered directly to the brain and recorded through the dorsal longitudinal muscles (DLMs) in the thorax. The DLMs are innervated by part of the giant fiber system. Starting with low voltage, high frequency stimulation, and subsequently raising the voltage in small increments, the seizure threshold for a single fly can be measured.

Neurocircuit Assays for Seizures in Epilepsy Mutants of Drosophila

Using high frequency electrical stimulation, seizure-like activity can be induced in Drosophila. This activity is easily recorded from the giant fiber system.

Saggi Neurocircuit per Sequestri in mutanti di Epilessia Drosophila</em

Drosophila melanogaster is a useful tool for studying seizure like activity. A variety of mutants in which seizures can be induced through either physical ...

Lens Transplantation in Zebrafish and its Application in the Analysis of Eye Mutants

The lens plays an important role in the development of the optic cup[1,2]. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, questions regarding lens development can be addressed. The zebrafish is useful for genetic studies due to several advantageous characteristics, including small size, high fecundity, short lifecycle, and ease of care. Lens development occurs rapidly in zebrafish. By 72 hpf, the zebrafish lens is functionally mature [3]. Abundant genetic and molecular resources are available to support research in zebrafish. In addition, the similarity of the zebrafish eye to those of other vertebrates provides basis for its use as an excellent animal model of human defects[4-7]. Several zebrafish mutants exhibit lens abnormalities, including high levels of cell death, which in some cases leads to a complete degeneration of lens tissues [8]. To determine whether lens abnormalities are due to intrinsic causes or to defective interactions with the surrounding tissues, transplantation of a mutant lens into a wild-type eye is performed. Using fire-polished metal needles, mutant or wild-type lenses are carefully dissected from the donor animal, and transferred into the host. To distinguish wild-type and mutant tissues, a transgenic line is used as the donor. This line expresses membrane-bound GFP in all tissues, including the lens. This transplantation technique is an essential tool in the studies of zebrafish lens mutants.

Lens development involves interactions with other tissues. Several zebrafish eye mutants are characterized by an abnormally small lens size. Here we demonstrate a lens transplantation experiment to determine whether this phenotype is due to intrinsic causes or defective interactions with tissues that surround the lens.

Lens trapianto in Zebrafish e la sua applicazione nell&#39;analisi dei Mutanti Eye

The lens plays an important role in the development of the optic cup[1,2]. Using the zebrafish as a model organism, questions regarding lens development ...

A Noninvasive Hair Sampling Technique to Obtain High Quality DNA from Elusive Small Mammals

Noninvasive genetic sampling approaches are becoming increasingly important to study wildlife populations. A number of studies have reported using noninvasive sampling techniques to investigate population genetics and demography of wild populations1. This approach has proven to be especially useful when dealing with rare or elusive species2. While a number of these methods have been developed to sample hair, feces and other biological material from carnivores and medium-sized mammals, they have largely remained untested in elusive small mammals. In this video, we present a novel, inexpensive and noninvasive hair snare targeted at an elusive small mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps). We describe the general set-up of the hair snare, which consists of strips of packing tape arranged in a web-like fashion and placed along travelling routes in the pikas&#x2019; habitat. We illustrate the efficiency of the snare at collecting a large quantity of hair that can then be collected and brought back to the lab. We then demonstrate the use of the DNA IQ system (Promega) to isolate DNA and showcase the utility of this method to amplify commonly used molecular markers including nuclear microsatellites, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), mitochondrial sequences (800bp) as well as a molecular sexing marker. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of this novel noninvasive hair snare as a sampling technique for wildlife population biologists. We anticipate that this approach will be applicable to a variety of small mammals, opening up areas of investigation within natural populations, while minimizing impact to study organisms.

We present a noninvasive sampling approach to efficiently collect hair samples from elusive small mammals, as shown for the American pika. We demonstrate the utility of this method by extracting DNA from sampled hair and amplifying several types of molecular markers commonly used in studies of wildlife ecology and conservation.

Una tecnica non invasiva di campionamento dei capelli per ottenere DNA di alta qualità da Elusive piccoli mammiferi

Noninvasive genetic sampling approaches are becoming increasingly important to study wildlife populations. A number of studies have reported using ...

Generation, Purification, and Characterization of Cell-invasive DISC1 Protein Species

Protein aggregation is seen as a general hallmark of chronic, degenerative brain conditions like, for example, in the neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's disease (A&beta;, tau), Parkinson's Disease (&alpha;-synuclein), Huntington's disease (polyglutamine, huntingtin), and others. Protein aggregation is thought to occur due to disturbed proteostasis, i.e. the imbalance between the arising and degradation of misfolded proteins. Of note, the same proteins are found aggregated in sporadic forms of these diseases that are mutant in rare variants of familial forms.
Schizophrenia is a chronic progressive brain condition that in many cases goes along with a permanent and irreversible cognitive deficit. In a candidate gene approach, we investigated whether Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a gene cloned in a Scottish family with linkage to chronic mental disease1, 2, could be found as insoluble aggregates in the brain of sporadic cases of schizophrenia3. Using the SMRI CC, we identified in approximately 20 % of cases with CMD but not normal controls or patients with neurodegenerative diseases sarkosyl-insoluble DISC1 immunoreactivity after biochemical fractionation. Subsequent studies in vitro revealed that the aggregation propensity of DISC1 was influenced by disease-associated polymorphism S704C4, and that DISC1 aggresomes generated in vitro were cell-invasive5, similar to what had been shown for A&beta;6, tau7-9, &alpha;-synuclein10, polyglutamine11, or SOD1 aggregates12. These findings prompted us to propose that at least a subset of cases with CMD, those with aggregated DISC1 might be protein conformational disorders.
 Here we describe how we generate DISC1 aggresomes in mammalian cells, purify them on a sucrose gradient and use them for cell-invasiveness studies. Similarly, we describe how we generate an exclusively multimeric C-terminal DISC1 fragment, label and purify it for cell invasiveness studies. Using the recombinant multimers of DISC1 we achieve similar cell invasiveness as for a similarly labeled synthetic &alpha;-synuclein fragment. We also show that this fragment is taken up in vivo when stereotactically injected into the brain of recipient animals.

The generation, purification and cell invasion of intracellular, cytoplasmic full length DISC1 protein aggresomes from cell cultures and of a labeled, multimeric recombinant DISC1 protein fragment in E. coli are described. Cell invasiveness is shown for recipient cells in cell culture and for neurons in vivo after stereotactical brain inoculation.

Generazione, purificazione e caratterizzazione di specie DISC1 Cell-invasive Protein

Protein aggregation is seen as a general hallmark of chronic, degenerative brain conditions like, for example, in the neurodegenerative diseases ...

Detecting, Visualizing and Quantitating the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in an Amoeba Model System

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) comprise a range of reactive and short-lived, oxygen-containing molecules, which are dynamically interconverted or eliminated either catalytically or spontaneously. Due to the short life spans of most ROS and the diversity of their sources and subcellular localizations, a complete picture can be obtained only by careful measurements using a combination of protocols. Here, we present a set of three different protocols using OxyBurst Green (OBG)-coated beads, or dihydroethidium (DHE) and Amplex UltraRed (AUR), to monitor qualitatively and quantitatively various ROS in professional phagocytes such as Dictyostelium. We optimised the beads coating procedures and used OBG-coated beads and live microscopy to dynamically visualize intraphagosomal ROS generation at the single cell level. We identified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli as a potent stimulator for ROS generation in Dictyostelium. In addition, we developed real time, medium-throughput assays using DHE and AUR to quantitatively measure intracellular superoxide and extracellular H2O2 production, respectively.

We adapted a set of protocols for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can be applied in various amoeba and mammalian cellular models for qualitative and quantitative studies.

Individuare, visualizzare e quantificare la generazione di specie reattive dell&#39;ossigeno in un modello di sistema di Amoeba

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) comprise a range of reactive and short-lived, oxygen-containing molecules, which are dynamically interconverted or ...

Rapid and Efficient Zebrafish Genotyping Using PCR with High-resolution Melt Analysis

Zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model system for studying development, modeling disease, and performing drug screening. Recently a variety of genetic tools have been introduced, including multiple strategies for inducing mutations and generating transgenic lines. However, large-scale screening is limited by traditional genotyping methods, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Here we describe a technique to analyze zebrafish genotypes by PCR combined with high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA).&#160;This approach is rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive, with lower risk of contamination artifacts.&#160;Genotyping by PCR with HRMA can be used for embryos or adult fish, including in high-throughput screening protocols.

PCR combined with high-resolution melt analysis (HRMA) is demonstrated as a rapid and efficient method to genotype zebrafish.

Rapido ed efficiente Zebrafish genotipizzazione Uso PCR con ad alta risoluzione Melt Analysis

Zebrafish is a powerful vertebrate model system for studying development, modeling disease, and performing drug screening. Recently a variety of genetic ...

Efficient Generation Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Somatic Cells with Sendai-virus

A few years ago, the establishment of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) ushered in a new era in biomedicine. Potential uses of human iPSCs include modeling pathogenesis of human genetic diseases, autologous cell therapy after gene correction, and personalized drug screening by providing a source of patient-specific and symptom relevant cells. However, there are several hurdles to overcome, such as eliminating the remaining reprogramming factor transgene expression after human iPSCs production. More importantly, residual transgene expression in undifferentiated human iPSCs could hamper proper differentiations and misguide the interpretation of disease-relevant in vitro phenotypes. With this reason, integration-free and/or transgene-free human iPSCs have been developed using several methods, such as adenovirus, the piggyBac system, minicircle vector, episomal vectors, direct protein delivery and synthesized mRNA. However, efficiency of reprogramming using integration-free methods is quite low in most cases.
Here, we present a method to isolate human iPSCs by using Sendai-virus (RNA virus) based reprogramming system. This reprogramming method shows consistent results and high efficiency in cost-effective manner.

Here, we present our established method to reprogram human somatic cells into transgene-free human iPSCs with Sendai virus, which shows consistent outcome and enhanced efficiency.

Efficiente generazione indotta umane pluripotenti cellule staminali da cellule somatiche umane con Sendai-virus

A few years ago, the establishment of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) ushered in a new era in biomedicine. Potential uses of human iPSCs ...

In vivo Clonal Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Marked by Five Fluorescent Proteins using Confocal and Multiphoton Microscopy

We developed and validated a fluorescent marking methodology for clonal tracking of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with high spatial and temporal resolution to study in vivo hematopoiesis using the murine bone marrow transplant experimental model. Genetic combinatorial marking using lentiviral vectors encoding fluorescent proteins (FPs) enabled cell fate mapping through advanced microscopy imaging. Vectors encoding five different FPs: Cerulean, EGFP, Venus, tdTomato, and mCherry were used to concurrently transduce HSPCs, creating a diverse palette of color marked cells. Imaging using confocal/two-photon hybrid microscopy enables simultaneous high resolution assessment of uniquely marked cells and their progeny in conjunction with structural components of the tissues. Volumetric analyses over large areas reveal that spectrally coded HSPC-derived cells can be detected non-invasively in various intact tissues, including the bone marrow (BM), for extensive periods of time following transplantation. Live studies combining video-rate multiphoton and confocal time-lapse imaging in 4D demonstrate the possibility of dynamic cellular and clonal tracking in a quantitative manner.

In vivo Clonal Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Marked by Five Fluorescent Proteins using Confocal and Multiphoton Microscopy

Combinatorial 5 fluorescent proteins marking of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells allows in vivo clonal tracking via confocal and two-photon microscopy, providing insights into bone marrow hematopoietic architecture during regeneration. This method allows non-invasive fate mapping of spectrally-coded HSPCs-derived cells in intact tissues for extensive periods of time following transplantation.

In vivo clonale Monitoraggio di staminali ematopoietiche e cellule progenitrici Contrassegnato da cinque proteine ​​fluorescenti che utilizzano confocale e microscopia Multiphoton

We developed and validated a fluorescent marking methodology for clonal tracking of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with high spatial and ...

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

The human gut is colonized by trillions of bacteria that support physiologic functions such as food metabolism, energy harvesting, and regulation of the immune system. Perturbation of the healthy gut microbiome has been suggested to play a role in the development of inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Environmental and genetic factors can influence the composition of the microbiome; therefore, identification of microbial communities linked with a disease phenotype has become the first step towards defining the microbiome&#8217;s role in health and disease. Use of 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing for profiling bacterial community has helped in advancing microbiome research. Despite its wide use, there is no uniform protocol for 16S rRNA-based taxonomic profiling analysis. Another limitation is the low resolution of taxonomic assignment due to technical difficulties such as smaller sequencing reads, as well as use of only forward (R1) reads in the final analysis due to low quality of reverse (R2) reads. There is need for a simplified method with high resolution to characterize bacterial diversity in a given biospecimen. Advancements in sequencing technology with the ability to sequence longer reads at high resolution have helped to overcome some of these challenges. Present sequencing technology combined with a publicly available metagenomic analysis pipeline such as R-based Divisive Amplicon Denoising Algorithm-2 (DADA2) has helped advance microbial profiling at high resolution, as DADA2 can assign sequence at the genus and species levels. Described here is a guide for performing bacterial profiling using two-step amplification of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by analysis using freely available analysis tools (i.e., DADA2, Phyloseq, and METAGENassist). It is believed that this simple and complete workflow will serve as an excellent tool for researchers interested in performing microbiome profiling studies.

Described here is a simplified standard operating procedure for microbiome profiling using 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing and analysis using freely available tools. This protocol will help researchers who are new to the microbiome field as well as those requiring updates on methods to achieve bacterial profiling at a higher resolution.

Analisi microbiota utilizzando PCR in due fasi e sequenziamento genico rRNA 16S di nuova generazione

The human gut is colonized by trillions of bacteria that support physiologic functions such as food metabolism, energy harvesting, and regulation of the ...