This work is supported in part by funds provided by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Wachovia foundation fund for faculty excellence, and a grant from NIGMS (R15GM101571).

1. LSE Preparation
<ol>
 <li>Female frogs (Xenopus laevis) are injected twice for egg collection. The first injection (priming) is 100 U PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin) per frog. Frogs must be primed at least two days before inducing egg laying and primed frogs are usable for up to two weeks. To prime frogs, inject PMSG subcutaneously in the dorsal lymph sacs using a 3 ml syringe and 27 G needle.</li>
 <li>To induce egg laying, inject 500 U hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) per primed frog subcutane...

<ol>
	<li>Lohka, M. J., Masui, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formation+in+vitro+of+sperm+pronuclei+and+mitotic+chromosomes+induced+by+amphibian+ooplasmic+components.">Formation in vitro of sperm pronuclei and mitotic chromosomes induced by amphibian ooplasmic components.</a> Science. 220 (4598), 719-721 (1983).</li><li>Cimprich, K. A., Cortez, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ATR:+an+essential+regulator+of+genome+integrity.">ATR: an essential regulator of genome integrity.</a> Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 9 (8), 616-627 (2008).</li><li>Lupardus, P. J., Van, C., Cimprich, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analyzing+the+ATR-mediated+checkpoint+using+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">Analyzing the ATR-mediated checkpoint using Xenopus egg extracts.</a> Methods. 41 (2), 222-231 (2007).</li><li>Lupardus, P. J., Byun, T., Yee, M. C., Hekmat-Nejad, M., Cimprich, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+requirement+for+replication+in+activation+of+the+ATR-dependent+DNA+damage+checkpoint.">A requirement for replication in activation of the ATR-dependent DNA damage checkpoint.</a> Genes Dev. 16 (18), 2327-2332 (2002).</li><li>Stokes, M. P., Van Hatten, R., Lindsay, H. D., Michael, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DNA+replication+is+required+for+the+checkpoint+response+to+damaged+DNA+in+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">DNA replication is required for the checkpoint response to damaged DNA in Xenopus egg extracts.</a> J. Cell Biol. 158 (5), 863-872 (2002).</li><li>Kato, K., Strauss, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Accumulation+of+an+intermediate+in+DNA+synthesis+by+HEp.2+cells+treated+with+methyl+methanesulfonate.">Accumulation of an intermediate in DNA synthesis by HEp.2 cells treated with methyl methanesulfonate.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71 (5), 1969-1973 (1974).</li><li>Paulovich, A. G., Hartwell, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+checkpoint+regulates+the+rate+of+progression+through+S+phase+in+S.+cerevisiae+in+response+to+DNA+damage.">A checkpoint regulates the rate of progression through S phase in S. cerevisiae in response to DNA damage.</a> Cell. 82 (5), 841-847 (1995).</li><li>Guo, Z., Kumagai, A., Wang, S. X., Dunphy, W. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Requirement+for+Atr+in+phosphorylation+of+Chk1+and+cell+cycle+regulation+in+response+to+DNA+replication+blocks+and+UV-damaged+DNA+in+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">Requirement for Atr in phosphorylation of Chk1 and cell cycle regulation in response to DNA replication blocks and UV-damaged DNA in Xenopus egg extracts.</a> Genes Dev. 14 (21), 2745-2756 (2000).</li><li>Jazayeri, A., Balestrini, A., Garner, E., Haber, J. E., Costanzo, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1-dependent+processing+of+DNA+breaks+generates+oligonucleotides+that+stimulate+ATM+activity.">Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1-dependent processing of DNA breaks generates oligonucleotides that stimulate ATM activity.</a> EMBO. J. 27 (14), 1953-1962 (2008).</li><li>Kumagai, A., Dunphy, W. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Claspin,+a+novel+protein+required+for+the+activation+of+Chk1+during+a+DNA+replication+checkpoint+response+in+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">Claspin, a novel protein required for the activation of Chk1 during a DNA replication checkpoint response in Xenopus egg extracts.</a> Mol. Cell. 6 (4), 839-849 (2000).</li><li>Yan, S., Lindsay, H. D., Michael, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+requirement+for+Xmus101+in+ATR-mediated+phosphorylation+of+Claspin+bound+Chk1+during+checkpoint+signaling.">Direct requirement for Xmus101 in ATR-mediated phosphorylation of Claspin bound Chk1 during checkpoint signaling.</a> J. Cell Biol. 173 (2), 181-186 (2006).</li><li>Shiotani, B., Zou, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-stranded+DNA+orchestrates+an+ATM-to-ATR+switch+at+DNA+breaks.">Single-stranded DNA orchestrates an ATM-to-ATR switch at DNA breaks.</a> Mol. Cell. 33 (5), 547-558 (2009).</li><li>Tutter, A. V., Walter, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chromosomal+DNA+replication+in+a+soluble+cell-free+system+derived+from+Xenopus+eggs.">Chromosomal DNA replication in a soluble cell-free system derived from Xenopus eggs.</a> Methods Mol. Biol. 322, 121-137 (2006).</li><li>Cross, M. K., Powers, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+and+Fractionation+of+Xenopus+laevis+Egg+Extracts.">Preparation and Fractionation of Xenopus laevis Egg Extracts.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (18), e891 (2008).</li></ol>

There are several advantages in studying the DNA damage checkpoint using Xenopus egg extracts. The use of egg extracts provides a large quantity of cell-free extracts synchronized at interphase of the cell cycle. The egg extracts can be easily and inexpensively made. It is relatively easy to damage DNA or chromatin and to reveal a defect in the DNA damage checkpoint after immunodepleting a target protein from egg extract. Subsequently, a potential function defect can be "rescued" by addback of wild type or muta...

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Reagents</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-Chk1 P-S344 antibody</td>
 <td>Cell Signaling</td>
 <td>2348L</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-Chk1 antibody</td>
 <td>Santa Cruz</td>
 <td>SC7898</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Aprotinin</td>
 <td>MP Biomedicals</td>
 <td>0219115880</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cycloheximide</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>C7698-5G</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cytochalasin B</td>
 <td>EMD</td>
 <td>250233</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dithiothreitol (DTT)</td>
 <td>VWR</td>
 <td>JTF780-2</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>hCG</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>CG10-10VL</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>L-Cysteine</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>C7352-1KG</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Leupeptin</td>
 <td>VWR</td>
 <td>97063-922</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>129925-5G</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nocodazole</td>
 <td>Sigma</td>
 <td>M1404-2MG</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>PMSG</td>
 <td>Calbiochem</td>
 <td>367222</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sample buffer</td>
 <td>Sigma </td>
 <td>S3401</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Tautomycin</td>
 <td>Wako Chemicals USA</td>
 <td>209-12041</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Equipment </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Bucket for egg laying</td>
 <td>Rubbermaid commercial products</td>
 <td>6308</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>CL2 IEC centrifuge with swinging bucket rotor</td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific</td>
 <td>004260F</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>HB6 swinging bucket rotor</td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific</td>
 <td>11860</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sorvall RC6 plus superspeed centrifuge </td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific </td>
 <td>46910</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>UV crosslinker</td>
 <td>UVP</td>
 <td>95-0174-01</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Solutions</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>1x MMR</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>100 mM NaCl, 2 mM KCl, 0.5 mM MgSO4, 2.5 mM CaCl2, 5 mM HEPES, adjust pH to 7.8 with 10 M NaOH</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Aprotinin/Leupeptin stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>10 mg/ml each in water. Store 20 &mu;l aliquots at -80 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Buffer X</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>0.2 M sucrose, 80 mM KCl, 15 mM NaCl, 5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM HEPES, adjust pH to 7.5 by HCl</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cycloheximide stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>10 mg/ml in water. Store 1 ml aliquots at -20 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cytochalasin B stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>5 mg/ml in DMSO. Store 20 &mu;l aliquots at -20 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dithiothreitol (DTT) stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>1 M in water. Store 1 ml aliquots at -20 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>ELB</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>0.25 M sucrose, 1 mM DTT, 50 &mu;g/ml cycloheximide, 2.5 mM MgCl2, 50 mM KCl, 10 mM HEPES, pH7.7</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nocodazole stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>10 mg/ml in DMSO. Store 5 &mu;l aliquots at -80 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Energy Mixture</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>375 mM creatine phosphate, 50 mM ATP, and 25 mM MgCl2. Aliquots are saved at -80 &deg;C.</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Nuclear dye solution</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>0.4 &mu;g/ml Hoechst 33258, 25% glycerol (v/v), in 1x PBS </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Tautomycin stock</td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>100 &mu;M in DMSO. Store 10 &mu;l aliquots at -80 &deg;C. </td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>

study of the dna damage checkpoint using xenopus egg extracts

On a daily basis, cells are subjected to a variety of endogenous and environmental insults. To combat these insults, cells have evolved DNA damage checkpoint signaling as a surveillance mechanism to sense DNA damage and direct cellular responses to DNA damage. There are several groups of proteins called sensors, transducers and effectors involved in DNA damage checkpoint signaling (Figure 1). In this complex signaling pathway, ATR (ATM and Rad3-related) is one of the major kinases that can respond to DNA damage and replication stress. Activated ATR can phosphorylate its downstream substrates such as Chk1 (Checkpoint kinase 1). Consequently, phosphorylated and activated Chk1 leads to many downstream effects in the DNA damage checkpoint including cell cycle arrest, transcription activation, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis or senescence (Figure 1). When DNA is damaged, failing to activate the DNA damage checkpoint results in unrepaired damage and, subsequently, genomic instability. The study of the DNA damage checkpoint will elucidate how cells maintain genomic integrity and provide a better understanding of how human diseases, such as cancer, develop.
Xenopus laevis egg extracts are emerging as a powerful cell-free extract model system in DNA damage checkpoint research. Low-speed extract (LSE) was initially described by the Masui group1. The addition of demembranated sperm chromatin to LSE results in nuclei formation where DNA is replicated in a semiconservative fashion once per cell cycle.
The ATR/Chk1-mediated checkpoint signaling pathway is triggered by DNA damage or replication stress 2. Two methods are currently used to induce the DNA damage checkpoint: DNA damaging approaches and DNA damage-mimicking structures 3. DNA damage can be induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, &gamma;-irradiation, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mitomycin C (MMC), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), or aphidicolin3, 4. MMS is an alkylating agent that inhibits DNA replication and activates the ATR/Chk1-mediated DNA damage checkpoint 4-7. UV irradiation also triggers the ATR/Chk1-dependent DNA damage checkpoint 8. The DNA damage-mimicking structure AT70 is an annealed complex of two oligonucleotides poly-(dA)70 and poly-(dT)70. The AT70 system was developed in Bill Dunphy's laboratory and is widely used to induce ATR/Chk1 checkpoint signaling 9-12.
Here, we describe protocols (1) to prepare cell-free egg extracts (LSE), (2) to treat Xenopus sperm chromatin with two different DNA damaging approaches (MMS and UV), (3) to prepare the DNA damage-mimicking structure AT70, and (4) to trigger the ATR/Chk1-mediated DNA damage checkpoint in LSE with damaged sperm chromatin or a DNA damage-mimicking structure.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts at JoVE.com

Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

Xenopus egg extract is a useful model system to investigate the DNA damage checkpoint. This protocol is for the preparation of Xenopus egg extracts and DNA damage checkpoint inducing reagents. These techniques are adaptable to a variety of DNA damaging approaches in the study of the DNA damage checkpoint signaling.

Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

On a daily basis, cells are subjected to a variety of endogenous and environmental insults. To combat these insults, cells have evolved DNA damage ...

study-of-the-dna-damage-checkpoint-using-xenopus-egg-extracts

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

16.5K ビュー.  University of North Carolina at Charlotte. アフリカツメガエルの卵抽出物は、DNA損傷チェックポイントを調査するために有用なモデル系である。このプロトコルは、 アフリカツメガエルの卵抽出物とDNA損傷チェックポイント誘導試薬の調製のためのものです。これらの技術は、DNA損傷チェックポイントシグナル伝達の研究ではDNA損傷の様々なアプローチに適応可能である。

ビデオ: Study of the DNA Damage Checkpoint using Xenopus Egg Extracts

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of the visual system provide more empirical evidence for functional applications. Investigation into the sensory system provides information about the sensory capacity, learning and memory ability, and establishes known baseline behaviour in which to gauge deviations (Burghardt, 1977). However, unlike mammalian or avian systems, testing for learning and memory in a reptile species is difficult. Furthermore, using an operant paradigm as a psychophysical measure of sensory ability is likewise as difficult. Historically, reptilian species have responded poorly to conditioning trials because of issues related to motivation, physiology, metabolism, and basic biological characteristics. Here, I demonstrate an operant paradigm used a novel model lizard species, the Jacky dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus) and describe how to test peripheral sensitivity to salient speed and motion characteristics. This method uses an innovative approach to assessing learning and sensory capacity in lizards. I employ the use of random-dot kinematograms (RDKs) to measure sensitivity to speed, and manipulate the level of signal strength by changing the proportion of dots moving in a coherent direction. RDKs do not represent a biologically meaningful stimulus, engages the visual system, and is a classic psychophysical tool used to measure sensitivity in humans and other animals. Here, RDKs are displayed to lizards using three video playback systems. Lizards are to select the direction (left or right) in which they perceive dots to be moving. Selection of the appropriate direction is reinforced by biologically important prey stimuli, simulated by computer-animated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in lizards using an operant conditioning paradigm that employs video playback of random-dot kinematograms and computer-generated invertebrates.

Testing visual sensitivity in any species provides basic information regarding behaviour, evolution, and ecology. However, testing specific features of ...

Preparation and Fractionation of Xenopus laevis Egg Extracts

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical analysis. Egg lysis and differential centrifugation are used to prepare the crude extract which in turn in used to prepare fractionated extracts and light membrane preparations.

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical analysis. Egg lysis and differential centrifugation are used to prepare the crude extract which in turn in used to prepare fractionated extracts and light membrane preparations.

Crude and fractionated Xenopus egg extracts can be used to provide ingredients for reconstituting cellular processes for morphological and biochemical ...

In Vitro Nuclear Assembly Using Fractionated Xenopus Egg Extracts

Nuclear membrane assembly is an essential step in the cell division cycle; this process can be replicated in the test tube by combining Xenopus sperm chromatin, cytosol, and light membrane fractions. Complete nuclei are formed, including nuclear membranes with pore complexes, and these reconstituted nuclei are capable of normal nuclear processes.

Nuclear membrane assembly is an essential step in the cell division cycle; this process can be replicated in the test tube by combining Xenopus sperm chromatin, cytosol, and light membrane fractions. Complete nuclei are formed, including nuclear membranes with pore complexes, and these reconstituted nuclei are capable of normal nuclear processes.

Nuclear membrane assembly is an essential step in the cell division cycle; this process can be replicated in the test tube by combining Xenopus sperm ...

Fertilization of Xenopus oocytes using the Host Transfer Method

Studying the contribution of maternally inherited molecules to vertebrate early development is often hampered by the time and expense necessary to generate maternal-effect mutant animals. Additionally, many of the techniques to overexpress or inhibit gene function in organisms such as Xenopus and zebrafish fail to sufficiently target critical maternal signaling pathways, such as Wnt signaling. In Xenopus, manipulating gene function in cultured oocytes and subsequently fertilizing them can ameliorate these problems to some extent. Oocytes are manually defolliculated from donor ovary tissue, injected or treated in culture as desired, and then stimulated with progesterone to induce maturation. Next, the oocytes are introduced into the body cavity of an ovulating host female frog, whereupon they will be translocated through the host's oviduct and acquire modifications and jelly coats necessary for fertilization. The resulting embryos can then be raised to the desired stage and analyzed for the effects of any experimental perturbations. This host-transfer method has been highly effective in uncovering basic mechanisms of early development and allows a wide range of experimental possibilities not available in any other vertebrate model organism.

Fertilization of Xenopus oocytes using the Host Transfer Method

Procedure for fertilizing Xenopus oocytes by the host transfer method.

Studying the contribution of maternally inherited molecules to vertebrate early development is often hampered by the time and expense necessary to ...

Production of Xenopus tropicalis Egg Extracts to Identify Microtubule-associated RNAs

Many organisms localize mRNAs to specific subcellular destinations to spatially and temporally control gene expression. Recent studies have demonstrated that the majority of the transcriptome is localized to a nonrandom position in cells and embryos. One approach to identify localized mRNAs is to biochemically purify a cellular structure of interest and to identify all associated transcripts. Using recently developed high-throughput sequencing technologies it is now straightforward to identify all RNAs associated with a subcellular structure. To facilitate transcript identification it is necessary to work with an organism with a fully sequenced genome. One attractive system for the biochemical purification of subcellular structures are egg extracts produced from the frog Xenopus laevis. However, X. laevis currently does not have a fully sequenced genome, which hampers transcript identification. In this article we describe a method to produce egg extracts from a related frog, X. tropicalis, that has a fully sequenced genome. We provide details for microtubule polymerization, purification and transcript isolation. While this article describes a specific method for identification of microtubule-associated transcripts, we believe that it will be easily applied to other subcellular structures and will provide a powerful method for identification of localized RNAs.

Production of Xenopus tropicalis Egg Extracts to Identify Microtubule-associated RNAs

We describe the collection of unfertilized Xenopus tropicalis eggs and production of a meiosis II-arrested egg extract. This egg extract can be used to purify microtubules and microtubule-associated RNAs.

Many  organisms localize mRNAs to specific subcellular destinations to spatially and  temporally control gene expression. Recent studies have demonstrated ...

Reconstitution Of &#946;-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Xenopus laevis egg extract is a well-characterized, robust system for studying the biochemistry of diverse cellular processes. Xenopus egg extract has been used to study protein turnover in many cellular contexts, including the cell cycle and signal transduction pathways1-3. Herein, a method is described for isolating Xenopus egg extract that has been optimized to promote the degradation of the critical Wnt pathway component, &beta;-catenin. Two different methods are described to assess &beta;-catenin protein degradation in Xenopus egg extract. One method is visually informative ([35S]-radiolabeled proteins), while the other is more readily scaled for high-throughput assays (firefly luciferase-tagged fusion proteins). The techniques described can be used to, but are not limited to, assess &beta;-catenin protein turnover and identify molecular components contributing to its turnover. Additionally, the ability to purify large volumes of homogenous Xenopus egg extract combined with the quantitative and facile readout of luciferase-tagged proteins allows this system to be easily adapted for high-throughput screening for modulators of &beta;-catenin degradation.

Reconstitution Of &amp;#946;-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

A method is described for analyzing protein degradation using radiolabeled and luciferase-fusion proteins in Xenopus egg extract and its adaptation for high-throughput screening for small molecule modulators of protein degradation.

Xenopus laevis egg extract is a well-characterized, robust system for studying the biochemistry of diverse cellular processes. Xenopus egg extract has ...

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

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) is the method of using the TdT enzyme to covalently attach a tagged form of dUTP to 3&#8217; ends of double- and single-stranded DNA breaks in cells. It is a reliable and useful method to detect DNA damage and cell death in situ. This video describes dissection, tissue processing, sectioning, and fluorescence-based TUNEL labeling of mouse skeletal muscle. It also describes a method of semi-automated TUNEL signal quantitation. Inherent normal tissue features and tissue processing conditions affect the ability of the TdT enzyme to efficiently label DNA. Tissue processing may also add undesirable autofluorescence that will interfere with TUNEL signal detection. Therefore, it is important to empirically determine tissue processing and TUNEL labeling methods that will yield the optimal signal-to-noise ratio for subsequent quantitation. The fluorescence-based assay described here provides a way to exclude autofluorescent signal by digital channel subtraction. The TUNEL assay, used with appropriate tissue processing techniques and controls, is a relatively fast, reproducible, quantitative method for detecting apoptosis in tissue. It can be used to confirm DNA damage and apoptosis as pathological mechanisms, to identify affected cell types, and to assess the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in vivo.

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

This video describes dissection, tissue processing, sectioning, and fluorescence-based TUNEL labeling of mouse skeletal muscle. It also describes a method for semi-automated analysis of TUNEL labeling.

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

A Cell-Free Assay Using Xenopus laevis Embryo Extracts to Study Mechanisms of Nuclear Size Regulation

A fundamental question in cell biology is how cell and organelle sizes are regulated. It has long been recognized that the size of the nucleus generally scales with the size of the cell, notably during embryogenesis when dramatic reductions in both cell and nuclear sizes occur. Mechanisms of nuclear size regulation are largely unknown and may be relevant to cancer where altered nuclear size is a key diagnostic and prognostic parameter. In vivo approaches to identifying nuclear size regulators are complicated by the essential and complex nature of nuclear function. The in vitro approach described here to study nuclear size control takes advantage of the normal reductions in nuclear size that occur during Xenopus laevis development. First, nuclei are assembled in X. laevis egg extract. Then, these nuclei are isolated and resuspended in cytoplasm from late stage embryos. After a 30 - 90 min incubation period, nuclear surface area decreases by 20 - 60%, providing a useful assay to identify cytoplasmic components present in late stage embryos that contribute to developmental nuclear size scaling. A major advantage of this approach is the relative facility with which the egg and embryo extracts can be biochemically manipulated, allowing for the identification of novel proteins and activities that regulate nuclear size. As with any in vitro approach, validation of results in an in vivo system is important, and microinjection of X. laevis embryos is particularly appropriate for these studies.

A Cell-Free Assay Using Xenopus laevis Embryo Extracts to Study Mechanisms of Nuclear Size Regulation

Mechanisms of cellular and intra-cellular scaling remain elusive. The use of Xenopus embryo extracts has become increasingly common to elucidate mechanisms of organelle size regulation. This method describes embryo extract preparation and a novel nuclear scaling assay through which mechanisms of nuclear size regulation can be identified.

A fundamental question in cell biology is how cell and organelle sizes are regulated. It has long been recognized that the size of the nucleus generally ...

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

Traditionally used for bulk biochemical assays, Xenopus laevis egg extracts have emerged as a powerful imaging-based tool for studying cytoplasmic phenomena, such as cytokinesis, mitotic spindle formation and assembly of the nucleus. Building upon early methods that imaged fixed extracts sampled at sparse time points, recent approaches image live extracts using time-lapse microscopy, revealing more dynamical features with enhanced temporal resolution. These methods usually require sophisticated surface treatments of the imaging vessel. Here we introduce an alternative method for live imaging of egg extracts that require no chemical surface treatment. It is simple to implement and utilizes mass-produced laboratory consumables for imaging. We describe a system that can be used for both wide-field and confocal microscopy. It is designed for imaging extracts in a 2-dimensional (2D) field, but can be easily extended to imaging in 3D. It is well-suited for studying spatial pattern formation within the cytoplasm. With representative data, we demonstrate the typical dynamic organization of microtubules, nuclei and mitochondria in interphase extracts prepared using this method. These image data can provide quantitative information on cytoplasmic dynamics and spatial organization.

Xenopus laevis Egg Extract Preparation and Live Imaging Methods for Visualizing Dynamic Cytoplasmic Organization

We describe a method for the preparation and live imaging of undiluted cytoplasmic extracts from Xenopus laevis eggs.

Traditionally used for bulk biochemical assays, Xenopus laevis egg extracts have emerged as a powerful imaging-based tool for studying cytoplasmic ...

Demonstration of the DNA Fiber Assay for Investigating DNA Damage and Repair Dynamics Induced by Nanoparticles

Nanomaterial exposure can cause replication stress and genomic instability in cells. The degree of instability depends on the chemistry, size, and concentration of the nanomaterials, the time of exposure, and the exposed cell type. Several established methods have been used to elucidate how endogenous/exogenous agents impact global replication. However, replicon-level assays, such as the DNA fiber assay, are imperative to understand how these agents influence replication initiation, terminations, and replication fork progression. Knowing this allows one to understand better how nanomaterials increase the chances of mutation fixation and genomic instability. We used RAW 264.7 macrophages as model cells to study the replication dynamics under graphene oxide nanoparticle exposure. Here, we demonstrate the basic protocol for the DNA fiber assay, which includes pulse labeling with nucleotide analogs, cell lysis, spreading the pulse-labeled DNA fibers onto slides, fluorescent immunostaining of the nucleotide analogs within the DNA fibers, imaging of the replication intermediates within the DNA fibers using confocal microscopy, and replication intermediate analysis utilizing a computer-assisted scoring and analysis (CASA) software.

The methodology assists in the analysis of variation in DNA replication dynamics in the presence of nanoparticles. Different methodologies can be adopted based on the cytotoxicity level of the material of interest. In addition, a description of the image analysis is provided to help in DNA fiber analysis.