Work in the authors' laboratory is supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM41628) and by a grant to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research from the Helen Nelson Medical Research Fund at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

1. ATP-dependent Nucleosome Remodeling Assays
To measure ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling activities, immunopurified INO80 or INO80 subcomplexes are incubated with ATP and a mononucleosomal substrate, which contains a single nucleosome positioned at one end of a 216-bp, 32P-labeled DNA fragment. The reaction products are then subjected to electrophoresis in native poly-acrylamide gels.
<ol>
	<li>To generate the 32P-labeled, &#39;601&#39; DNA fragment, amplify from pGEM-3Z-6014 a 216 bp DNA fragment containing an end-positioned 601 nucleosome positioning sequence, using the oligonucleotides 5&#8242;-ACAGGATGTATATATCTGACACGTGCCTGG and 5&#8242;-AATACTCAAGCTTGGATGCCTGCAG as forward and reverse primers.
	<ol>
		<li>Set up a 100 &#956;l PCR reaction as described in Table 1.</li>
		<li>Perform the PCR reactions in a thermal cycler using the following program: 1 min at 96 &#176;C, followed by 45 sec at 94 &#176;C, 30 sec at 57 &#176;C, 60 sec at 72 &#176;C for 30 cycles; ending with 7 min at 72 &#176;C.</li>
		<li>After the PCR reaction is finished, remove the unincorporated nucleotides by passing the reaction products twice through nuclease-free spin columns.</li>
		<li>Run 5 &#956;l of the purified PCR product in a 1.2% agarose gel to confirm that the PCR reaction generated the desired ~216 bp DNA fragment.</li>
		<li>Dilute 5 &#956;l of the purified PCR product 20-fold, and measure the DNA concentration using a UV spectrophotometer. The average yield is ~40 ng/&#956;l.</li>
		<li>Measure the radioactivity of 1 &#956;l of the purified PCR product in a scintillation counter. Estimate the labeling efficiency by calculating the cpm/ng. A successful labeling reaction is expected to yield ~15,000 cpm/ng of 601 DNA fragment.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Transfer Hela cell nucleosomes onto the labeled 601 DNA using a serial dilution method 5.
	<ol>
		<li>Mix 2 pmol of 32P-labeled 601 DNA fragment with 6 &#181;g of Hela nucleosomes (prepared as described 5) in 50 &#181;l of a buffer containing 1.0 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, 0.1 mM PMSF, and 1 mM DTT and incubate at 30 &#176;C for 30 min.</li>
		<li>Sequentially dilute the mixture to 0.8 M, 0.6 M, and 0.4 M NaCl by dilution with 12.5 &#181;l, 20.8 &#181;l, and 41.6 &#181;l, respectively, of 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 1 mM EDTA, 0.1 mM PMSF, and 1 mM DTT, with a 30 min incubation at 30 &#176;C after each dilution.</li>
		<li>Further dilute the mixture to 0.2 M and then to 0.1 M NaCl by addition of 125 &#181;l and then 250 &#181;l of the same buffer containing 0.1% Nonidet P-40, 20% glycerol, and 200 &#181;g/ml BSA, with a 30 min incubation at 30 &#176;C between the final two dilutions. Store the mononucleosome substrate at 4 &#176;C for up to 3 months.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Perform ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding reactions in a total volume of 10 &#181;l. The reaction components are listed in Table 2. Since the optimal NaCl concentration for INO80 nucleosome remodeling activity is ~50 mM NaCl (unpublished results), adjust the total concentration of NaCl in each reaction to 50 mM, taking into account the amount of NaCl contained in preparations of nucleosomes and enzyme.
	<ol>
		<li>Before beginning to set up the assays, cast native poly-acrylamide gels (18 x 16 cm). To prepare a single gel containing 5% acrylamide (acrylamide:bisacrylamide 37.5:1), 0.5x TBE (45 mM Tris borate, 1 mM EDTA), 0.01% ammonium persulfate (APS), and 0.001% N,N,N&#180;,N&#180;-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED), mix the ingredients listed in Table 3. Allow the gel to polymerize for at least 2 hr at RT.</li>
		<li>Meanwhile, for each reaction to be performed, combine in a pre-chilled siliconized 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube ~20 nM INO80 or INO80 subcomplex (prepared as described 3) with an amount of EB100 buffer (Table 4) sufficient to give a volume of 4.75 &#956;l. Immediately re-freeze any remaining INO80-containing fractions in powdered dry ice or liquid nitrogen.</li>
		<li>Set up a master cocktail with the rest of the ingredients, scaling up by a factor of &#39;X&#39; (where X = total number of reactions +3). The amount of each ingredient needed for a single 10 &#956;l reaction is listed in Table 5; the recipe should be scaled up according to the number of reactions to be performed. Mix well by tapping the tube or by pipetting up and down with a Pipetman and spin the tube for a few seconds in a benchtop microcentrifuge.</li>
		<li>Dispense 5.25 &#181;l of the master cocktail to each of the reaction tubes set up in step 1.3.2. Mix well by pipetting up and down. Start the reactions by transferring reaction tubes to a 30 &#176;C heat block or water bath and incubate for 2 hr.</li>
		<li>Meanwhile, prepare &#39;removing mix&#39; cocktail containing competitor DNA and nucleosomes, scaling up by a factor of X (X = total number of reactions + 4). The amount of each ingredient needed to prepare 1.5 &#181;l removing mix for a single reaction is listed in Table 6; the recipe should be scaled up depending on the number of assays to be performed.</li>
		<li>Terminate reactions by adding 1.5 &#956;l of the removing mix. Mix well, spin down, and incubate at 30 &#176;C for a further 30 min.</li>
		<li>Meanwhile, pre-run the native polyacrylamide gel in a vertical electrophoresis unit at 100 V for 30 min at 4 &#176;C, using 0.5x TBE as running buffer with a magnetic stir bar inside the lower chamber to maintain constant buffer circulation.</li>
		<li>To load the sample, add 2.5 &#181;l of loading dye containing 3x TBE, 30% glycerol, 0.25% Bromophenol Blue, and 0.25% Xylene Cyanol FF. Mix well, briefly spin the samples, and load onto the gel using loading tips.</li>
		<li>Run the gel at 200 V for 4.5 hr at 4 &#176;C with buffer circulation.</li>
		<li>To detect the signal, transfer the gel to a stack of two sheets of filter paper. Wrap the filter paper with the gel on top using clear plastic wrap, and then expose it to a storage phosphor screen at 4 &#176;C for the desired time.</li>
		<li>Scan the screen with an isotope imaging scanner system and analyze the data using suitable software.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Mononucleosome Binding Assays
To assay the binding affinity of a given INO80 complex for mononucleosomes, perform an Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) using the mononucleosomal substrate generated in Step 1.2.
<ol>
	<li>Set up the reaction mixes for binding assays as described for nucleosome remodeling assays but omit the ATP and removing mix from the reactions; incubate at 30 &#176;C for 30 min.</li>
	<li>Add 2.5 &#181;l of loading dye to each reaction mixture, and apply to a native polyacrylamide gel containing 3.5% acrylamide (acrylamide:bis 37.5:1), 1% Glycerol, 0.5x TBE, 0.01% APS, and 0.001% TEMED.</li>
	<li>Using 0.5x TBE as running buffer, run the gel at 200 V for 2.5 hr at 4 &#176;C with buffer circulation and expose to a storage phosphor screen.</li>
</ol>
3. DNA- and Nucleosome-dependent ATPase Assays
Perform ATPase assays in 5 &#956;l reaction mixtures containing 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 60 mM NaCl, 6.6 mM MgCl2, 0.8 mM EDTA, 0.015% Nonidet P-40, 2.5% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml BSA, 1 mM DTT, 0.1 mM PMSF, 2 mM ATP, 2 &#956;Ci of [&#945;-32P] ATP (3,000 Ci/mmol). For each INO80 complex or amount of INO80 complex to be assayed set up three parallel reactions, one containing EB100 buffer to measure DNA- or nucleosome-independent ATPase, one containing closed circular plasmid DNA (5,000 bp, ~30 nM) to measure DNA-dependent ATPase, and one containing Hela oligonucleosomes (~185 nM) to measure nucleosome-dependent ATPase. Set up all reactions on ice.
<ol>
	<li>For each reaction, combine 10-50 nM of the immunopurified INO80 or INO80 subcomplexes with an amount of EB100 buffer sufficient to give a volume of 2.2 &#956;l in pre-chilled lubricated 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes. Immediately re-freeze any INO80-containing fractions in powdered dry ice or liquid nitrogen.</li>
	<li>Set up a master cocktail. The amount of each ingredient needed for a single reaction is listed in Table 7. Scale up the recipe by scaling up by a factor of 3(X+2) +1, where X = the number of INO80 preparations to be assayed.</li>
	<li>To prepare &#39;sub-cocktails&#39; containing buffer only, DNA, or nucleosomes, dispense 2.5(X+2) &#956;l of the master cocktail into three separate tubes. Add 0.3(X+2) &#956;l of either EB100, closed circular plasmid DNA (1.5 &#181;g/&#181;l), or Hela oligonucleosomes (1.5 &#956;g/&#956;l) and mix well.</li>
	<li>Dispense 2.8 &#956;l of the appropriate sub-cocktail to the enzyme-containing reaction tubes set up in step 3.1. Gently pipette up and down to mix; avoid introducing bubbles.</li>
	<li>To start reactions, transfer the reaction tubes to a 30 &#176;C heat block.</li>
	<li>After 5, 15, 30, and 60 min of incubation, spot 0.5 &#956;l of each reaction mixture onto a cellulose polyethyleneimine thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate (20 x 10 cm) in a straight line at least 1.5 cm away from the bottom edge. Immediately return reaction tubes to the 30 &#176;C heat block so multiple time points can be taken from a single tube. After spotting, dry the TLC plates using a blow dryer.</li>
	<li>Transfer the TLC plates to a glass chamber containing enough 0.375 M potassium phosphate (pH 3.5) to allow the bottom 0.5 cm of the TLC plate to be submerged in the solution.</li>
	<li>Cover the chamber, and develop until the front of the liquid phase reaches the top of the TLC plates. Immediate dry the plates thoroughly using a blow dryer.</li>
	<li>Expose the dried TLC plates to a storage Phosphor screen at RT. Scan the screen with an isotope imaging scanner system and determine the amount of radioactive ATP substrate and ADP product.</li>
	<li>To calculate the amount of ATP hydrolyzed, multiply the % ATP hydrolyzed by the amount of ATP present in the starting reaction mixture using the following formula: pmol ATP hydrolyzed = 10 pmol ATP in starting reaction x [ADP/(ATP+ADP)]</li>
</ol>

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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

To ensure that nucleosome remodeling and ATPase activities we observe in assays depend on the catalytic activity of INO80 complexes, and not on contaminating remodeling and/or ATPase enzymes, we routinely assay nucleosome remodeling and ATPase activity of catalytically inactive versions of INO80 complexes, purified in parallel with wild type INO80 using the same procedure. A negative control reaction lacking ATP should also be performed when assaying nucleosome remodeling activity to test for the presence of contaminatin...

SNF2 family chromatin remodeling complexes include a central SNF2-like ATPase subunit 1,2. Some SNF2-like ATPases function as single subunit enzymes, while others function as the catalytic subunit of larger multi-subunit complexes. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which each of the subunits of chromatin remodeling complexes contribute to their activities requires the ability to perform biochemical assays that dissect the remodeling process.
ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling by the human INO80 complex and other chromatin remodeling enzymes can be envisioned as a multi-step process that starts with binding of the remodeling enzyme to nucleosomes, followed by activation of its DNA- and/or nucleosome-dependent ATPase, translocation of the remodeling enzyme on nucleosomal DNA, and eventual repositioning of nucleosomes 1,2. Understanding the molecular details of the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling process requires dissection of the remodeling reaction into its individual steps and definition of the contributions of individual subunits of the chromatin remodeling complex to each step of the reaction. Such analyses require the ability to analyze nucleosome remodeling and other activities using defined molecular substrates in vitro.
In a previous JOVE protocol, we described procedures used to generate INO80 chromatin remodeling complexes and subcomplexes with defined subunit compositions 3. Here, we present three biochemical assays that enable quantitative analysis of the nucleosome binding, DNA- and nucleosome-activated ATPase, and nucleosome remodeling activities associated with such complexes.

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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">Name of Reagent/Material</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Protease Inhibitor Cocktail</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">P8340</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10x PCR reaction buffer&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Roche Applied Science&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">11435094001</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Roche Taq DNA Polymerase</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Roche Applied Science&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">11435094001</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NucAway Nuclease-free Spin Columns&#160;</td>
			<td>Ambion</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">Cat. # AM10070</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ultrapure ATP&#160;</td>
			<td>USB/Affymetrix</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">77241 25 UM</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">bovine serum albumin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">A9418&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">N,N,N&#180;,N&#180;-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED)</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">17919</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">40% Acrylamide/Bis 37.5:1</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Amresco</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">0254-500ML</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sonicated salmon sperm DNAs&#160;</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">27-4565-01</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10% ammonium persulfate (APS)</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">17874</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">benzonase&#160;</td>
			<td>Novagen</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">Cat. No. 70664</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;">[&#945;-32P] ATP (3000 Ci/mmol)</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">PerkinElmer</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">BLU003H250UC</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">dCTP, [&#945;-32P]- 6000Ci/mmol</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">PerkinElmer</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">BLU013Z250UC</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;"></td>
			<td style="width:212px;"></td>
			<td style="width:147px;"></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:147px;"></td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">PCR thermal cycler PTC 200</td>
			<td>MJ Research</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">PTC 200</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hoefer vertical electrophoresis unit</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Hoefer</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">SE600X-15-1.5</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">lubricated 1.5ml microcentrifuge tubes&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Costar</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">3207</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Storage Phosphor Screen&#160;</td>
			<td>Molecular Dynamics</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">63-0034-79</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">3MM filter paper</td>
			<td>Whatman&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">28458-005</td>
			<td style="width:123px;">VWR</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Typhoon PhosphorImager&#160;</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">8600</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ImageQuant software</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">ver2003.02</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">TLC Glass Plates, PEI-Cellulose F</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">5725-7</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:359px;">Immobilon-FL Transfer Membrane 7 x 8.4</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">IPFL07810</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:359px;">General purpose survey meter with end-window or pancake GM (Geiger-Mueller) probe</td>
			<td style="width:212px;">Biodex</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">Model 14C</td>
			<td style="width:123px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

biochemical assays for analyzing activities of atp-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes

Members of the SNF2 family of ATPases often function as components of multi-subunit chromatin remodeling complexes that regulate nucleosome dynamics and DNA accessibility by catalyzing ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling. Biochemically dissecting the contributions of individual subunits of such complexes to the multi-step ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling reaction requires the use of assays that monitor the production of reaction products and measure the formation of reaction intermediates. This JOVE protocol describes assays that allow one to measure the biochemical activities of chromatin remodeling complexes or subcomplexes containing various combinations of subunits. Chromatin remodeling is measured using an ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding assay, which monitors the movement of a nucleosome on a DNA molecule using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)-based method. Nucleosome binding activity is measured by monitoring the formation of remodeling complex-bound mononucleosomes using a similar EMSA-based method, and DNA- or nucleosome-dependent ATPase activity is assayed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) to measure the rate of conversion of ATP to ADP and phosphate in the presence of either DNA or nucleosomes. Using these assays, one can examine the functions of subunits of a chromatin remodeling complex by comparing the activities of the complete complex to those lacking one or more subunits. The human INO80 chromatin remodeling complex is used as an example; however, the methods described here can be adapted to the study of other chromatin remodeling complexes.

The figures show representative results of biochemical assays used to characterize INO80 activities, including nucleosome sliding (Figure 1) and binding (Figure 2) assays and DNA- or nucleosome-dependent ATPase assays (Figure 3).
The experiment shown in Figure 1 compares the ability of intact INO80 complexes purified through FLAG-Ies2 or FLAG-INO80E and of INO80 subcomplexes purified through either FLAG-Ino80&#916;N or Ino80&#...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Biochemical Assays for Analyzing Activities of ATP-dependent Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes at JoVE.com

Biochemical Assays for Analyzing Activities of ATP-dependent Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes

Here we describe biochemical assays that can be used to characterize ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes for their abilities to 1) catalyze ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding, 2) engage with nucleosome substrates, and 3) hydrolyze ATP in a nucleosome- or DNA-dependent manner.

Members of the SNF2 family of ATPases often function as components of multi-subunit chromatin remodeling complexes that regulate nucleosome dynamics and ...

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14.7K Views.  Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Here we describe biochemical assays that can be used to characterize ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes for their abilities to 1) catalyze ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding, 2) engage with nucleosome substrates, and 3) hydrolyze ATP in a nucleosome- or DNA-dependent manner.

Video: Biochemical Assays for Analyzing Activities of ATP-dependent Chromatin Remodeling Enzymes

A Chromatin Assay for Human Brain Tissue

Chronic neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disease and autism are thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors that might result in epigenetic alterations of gene expression and other molecular pathology. Traditionally, however, expression studies in postmortem brain were confined to quantification of mRNA or protein. The limitations encountered in postmortem brain research   such as variabilities in autolysis time and tissue integrities   are also likely to impact any studies of higher order chromatin structures. However, the nucleosomal organization of genomic DNA   including DNA:core histone binding - appears to be largely preserved in representative samples provided by various brain banks. Therefore, it is possible to study the methylation pattern and other covalent modifications of the core histones at defined genomic loci in postmortem brain. Here, we present a simplified native chromatin immunoprecipitation (NChIP) protocol for frozen (never-fixed) human brain specimens. Starting with micrococcal nuclease digestion of brain homogenates, NChIP followed by qPCR can be completed within three days. The methodology presented here should be useful to elucidate epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression in normal and diseased human brain.

Until recently, expression studies on human brain were limited to quantification of RNA or protein. With the chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques described in this paper, it will be possible to map histone methylation and other epigenetic regulators of gene expression in postmortem brain.

Chronic neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disease and autism are thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental ...

Zebrafish Brain Ventricle Injection

Proper brain ventricle formation during embryonic brain development is required for normal brain function.  Brain ventricles are the highly conserved cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.  In zebrafish, after neural tube formation, the neuroepithelium undergoes a series of constrictions and folds while it fills with fluid resulting in brain ventricle formation.  In order to understand the process of ventricle formation, and the neuroepithelial shape changes that occur at the same time, we needed a way to visualize the ventricle space in comparison to the brain tissue.  However, the nature of transparent zebrafish embryos makes it difficult to differentiate the tissue from the ventricle space.  Therefore, we developed a brain ventricle injection technique where the ventricle space is filled with a fluorescent dye and imaged by brightfield and fluorescent microscopy.  The brightfield and the fluorescent images are then processed and superimposed in Photoshop.  This technique allows for visualization of the ventricle space with the fluorescent dye, in comparison to the shape of the neuroepithelium in the brightfield image.  Brain ventricle injection in zebrafish can be employed from 18 hours post fertilization through early larval stages.  We have used this technique extensively in our studies of brain ventricle formation and morphogenesis as well as in characterizing brain morphogenesis mutants (1-3).

After neural tube formation, the neuroepithelium constricts and folds while the tube fills with embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (eCSF) to form the embryonic brain ventricles. We developed this ventricle injection technique to better visualize the fluid filled space in contrast to the neuroepithelial shape in a live embryo.

Proper brain ventricle formation during embryonic brain development is required for normal brain function.  Brain ventricles are the highly conserved ...

Photobleaching Assays (FRAP &amp; FLIP) to Measure Chromatin Protein Dynamics in Living Embryonic Stem Cells

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) enable the study of protein dynamics in living cells with good spatial and temporal resolution. Here we describe how to perform FRAP and FLIP assays of chromatin proteins, including H1 and HP1, in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. In a FRAP experiment, cells are transfected, either transiently or stably, with a protein of interest fused with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) or derivatives thereof (YFP, CFP, Cherry, etc.). In the transfected, fluorescing cells, an intense focused laser beam bleaches a relatively small region of interest (ROI). The laser wavelength is selected according to the fluorescent protein used for fusion. The laser light irreversibly bleaches the fluorescent signal of molecules in the ROI and, immediately following bleaching, the recovery of the fluorescent signal in the bleached area - mediated by the replacement of the bleached molecules with the unbleached molecules - is monitored using time lapse imaging. The generated fluorescence recovery curves provide information on the protein's mobility. If the fluorescent molecules are immobile, no fluorescence recovery will be observed. In a complementary approach, Fluorescence Loss in Photobleaching (FLIP), the laser beam bleaches the same spot repeatedly and the signal intensity is measured elsewhere in the fluorescing cell. FLIP experiments therefore measure signal decay rather than fluorescence recovery and are useful to determine protein mobility as well as protein shuttling between cellular compartments. Transient binding is a common property of chromatin-associated proteins. Although the major fraction of each chromatin protein is bound to chromatin at any given moment at steady state, the binding is transient and most chromatin proteins have a high turnover on chromatin, with a residence time in the order of seconds. These properties are crucial for generating high plasticity in genome expression1. Photobleaching experiments are therefore particularly useful to determine chromatin plasticity using GFP-fusion versions of chromatin structural proteins, especially in ES cells, where the dynamic exchange of chromatin proteins (including heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), linker histone H1 and core histones) is higher than in differentiated cells2,3.

Photobleaching Assays FRAP &amp; FLIP to Measure Chromatin Protein Dynamics in Living Embryonic Stem Cells

We describe photobleaching methods including Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) to monitor chromatin protein dynamics in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Chromatin protein dynamics, which is considered to be one of the means to study chromatin plasticity, is enhanced in pluripotent cells.

Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Loss In Photobleaching (FLIP) enable the study of protein dynamics in living cells with ...

Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element (CRE) Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

Gene expression patterns are specified by cis-regulatory element (CRE) sequences, which are also called enhancers or cis-regulatory modules. A typical CRE possesses an arrangement of binding sites for several transcription factor proteins that confer a regulatory logic specifying when, where, and at what level the regulated gene(s) is expressed. The full set of CREs within an animal genome encodes the organism&prime;s program for development1, and empirical as well as theoretical studies indicate that mutations in CREs played a prominent role in morphological evolution2-4. Moreover, human genome wide association studies indicate that genetic variation in CREs contribute substantially to phenotypic variation5,6. Thus, understanding regulatory logic and how mutations affect such logic is a central goal of genetics. 
Reporter transgenes provide a powerful method to study the in vivo function of CREs. Here a known or suspected CRE sequence is coupled to heterologous promoter and coding sequences for a reporter gene encoding an easily observable protein product. When a reporter transgene is inserted into a host organism, the CRE&prime;s activity becomes visible in the form of the encoded reporter protein. P-element mediated transgenesis in the fruit fly species Drosophila (D.) melanogaster7 has been used for decades to introduce reporter transgenes into this model organism, though the genomic placement of transgenes is random. Hence, reporter gene activity is strongly influenced by the local chromatin and gene environment, limiting CRE comparisons to being qualitative. In recent years, the phiC31 based integration system was adapted for use in D. melanogaster to insert transgenes into specific genome landing sites8-10. This capability has made the quantitative measurement of gene and, relevant here, CRE activity11-13 feasible. The production of transgenic fruit flies can be outsourced, including phiC31-based integration, eliminating the need to purchase expensive equipment and/or have proficiency at specialized transgene injection protocols. 
Here, we present a general protocol to quantitatively evaluate a CRE&prime;s activity, and show how this approach can be used to measure the effects of an introduced mutation on a CRE&prime;s activity and to compare the activities of orthologous CREs. Although the examples given are for a CRE active during fruit fly metamorphosis, the approach can be applied to other developmental stages, fruit fly species, or model organisms. Ultimately, a more widespread use of this approach to study CREs should advance an understanding of regulatory logic and how logic can vary and evolve.

Quantitative Comparison of cis-Regulatory Element CRE Activities in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

Phenotypic variation for traits can result from mutations in cis-regulatory element (CRE) sequences that control gene expression patterns. Methods derived for use in Drosophila melanogaster can quantitatively compare the levels of spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression mediated by modified or naturally occurring CRE variants.

Gene expression patterns are specified by cis-regulatory element (CRE) sequences, which are also called enhancers or cis-regulatory modules. A typical CRE ...

Blood Collection for Biochemical Analysis in Adult Zebrafish

The zebrafish has been used as an animal model for studies of several human diseases. It can serve as a powerful preclinical platform for studies of molecular events and therapeutic strategies as well as for evaluating the physiological mechanisms of some pathologies1. 
There are relatively few publications related to adult zebrafish physiology of organs and systems2, which may lead researchers to infer that the basic techniques needed to allow the exploration of zebrafish systems are lacking3. Hematologic biochemical values of zebrafish were first reported in 2003 by Murtha and colleagues4 who employed a blood collection technique first described by Jagadeeswaran and colleagues in 1999. Briefly, blood was collected via a micropipette tip through a lateral incision, approximately 0.3 cm in length, in the region of the dorsal aorta5. Because of the minute dimensions involved, this is a high-precision technique requiring a highly skilled practitioner. The same technique was used by the same group in another publication in that same year6. In 2010, Eames and colleagues assessed whole blood glucose levels in zebrafish7. They gained access to the blood by performing decapitations with scissors and then inserting a heparinized microcapillary collection tube into the pectoral articulation. They mention difficulties with hemolysis that were solved with an appropriate storage temperature based on the work Kilpatrick et al.8. When attempting to use Jagadeeswaran's technique in our laboratory, we found that it was difficult to make the incision in precisely the right place as not to allow a significant amount of blood to be lost before collection could be started. 
Recently, Gupta et al.9 described how to dissect adult zebrafish organs, Kinkle et al.10 described how to perform intraperitoneal injections, and Pugach et al.11 described how to perform retro-orbital injections. However, more work is needed to more fully explore basic techniques for research in zebrafish.
The small size of zebrafish presents challenges for researchers using it as an experimental model. Furthermore, given this smallness of scale, it is important that simple techniques are developed to enable researchers to explore the advantages of the zebrafish model.

This paper presents a technique for collection of blood from the dorsal aorta of Zebrafish. It also provides instructions for obtaining serum for use in biochemical analyses, such as tests for determining cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The zebrafish has been used as an animal model for studies of several human diseases. It can serve as a powerful preclinical platform for studies of ...

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans

The nematode C. elegans has emerged as an important model for the study of conserved genetic pathways regulating fat metabolism as it relates to human obesity and its associated pathologies. Several previous methodologies developed for the visualization of C. elegans triglyceride-rich fat stores have proven to be erroneous, highlighting cellular compartments other than lipid droplets. Other methods require specialized equipment, are time-consuming, or yield inconsistent results. We introduce a rapid, reproducible, fixative-based Nile red staining method for the accurate and rapid detection of neutral lipid droplets in C. elegans. A short fixation step in 40% isopropanol makes animals completely permeable to Nile red, which is then used to stain animals. Spectral properties of this lipophilic dye allow it to strongly and selectively fluoresce in the yellow-green spectrum only when in a lipid-rich environment, but not in more polar environments. Thus, lipid droplets can be visualized on a fluorescent microscope equipped with simple GFP imaging capability after only a brief Nile red staining step in isopropanol. The speed, affordability, and reproducibility of this protocol make it ideally suited for high throughput screens. We also demonstrate a paired method for the biochemical determination of triglycerides and phospholipids using gas chromatography mass-spectrometry. This more rigorous protocol should be used as confirmation of results obtained from the Nile red microscopic lipid determination. We anticipate that these techniques will become new standards in the field of C. elegans metabolic research.

Biochemical and High Throughput Microscopic Assessment of Fat Mass in Caenorhabditis Elegans

We present robust biochemical and microscopic methods for studying Caenorhabditis elegans lipid stores. A rapid, simple, fixing-staining procedure for fluorescent lipid droplet imaging leverages the spectral properties of the lipophilic dye Nile red. We then present biochemical measurement of triglycerides and phospholipids using solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The nematode C. elegans has emerged as an important  model for the study of conserved genetic pathways regulating fat metabolism as  it relates to human ...

Biochemical Titration of Glycogen In vitro

Glycogen is the main energetic polymer of glucose in vertebrate animals and plays a crucial role in whole body metabolism as well as in cellular metabolism. Many methods to detect glycogen already exist but only a few are quantitative. We describe here a method using the Abcam Glycogen assay kit, which is based on specific degradation of glycogen to glucose by glucoamylase. Glucose is then specifically oxidized to a product that reacts with the OxiRed probe to produce fluorescence. Titration is accurate, sensitive and can be achieved on cell extracts or tissue sections. However, in contrast to other techniques, it does not give information about the distribution of glycogen in the cell. As an example of this technique, we describe here the titration of glycogen in two cell lines, Chinese hamster lung fibroblast CCL39 and human colon carcinoma LS174, incubated in normoxia (21% O2) versus hypoxia (1% O2). We hypothesized that hypoxia is a signal that prepares cells to synthesize and store glycogen in order to survive1.

Biochemical Titration of Glycogen In vitro

We describe here an accurate, reproducible and convenient biochemical method for titration of glycogen in vitro. This technique uses the Abcam Glycogen assay kit and is based on successive hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose and glucose titration by fluorescence.

Glycogen is the main energetic polymer of glucose in vertebrate animals and plays a crucial role in whole body metabolism as well as in cellular ...

Generation and Purification of Human INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Complexes and Subcomplexes

INO80 chromatin remodeling complexes regulate nucleosome dynamics and DNA accessibility by catalyzing ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling. Human INO80 complexes consist of 14 protein subunits including Ino80, a SNF2-like ATPase, which serves both as the catalytic subunit and the scaffold for assembly of the complexes. Functions of the other subunits and the mechanisms by which they contribute to the INO80 complex&#39;s chromatin remodeling activity remain poorly understood, in part due to the challenge of generating INO80 subassemblies in human cells or heterologous expression systems. This JOVE protocol describes a procedure that allows purification of human INO80 chromatin remodeling subcomplexes that are lacking a subunit or a subset of subunits. N-terminally FLAG epitope tagged Ino80 cDNA are stably introduced into human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cell lines using Flp-mediated recombination. In the event that a subset of subunits of the INO80 complex is to be deleted, one expresses instead mutant Ino80 proteins that lack the platform needed for assembly of those subunits. In the event an individual subunit is to be depleted, one transfects siRNAs targeting this subunit into an HEK 293 cell line stably expressing FLAG tagged Ino80 ATPase. Nuclear extracts are prepared, and FLAG immunoprecipitation is performed to enrich protein fractions containing Ino80 derivatives. The compositions of purified INO80 subcomplexes can then be analyzed using methods such as immunoblotting, silver staining, and mass spectrometry. The INO80 and INO80 subcomplexes generated according to this protocol can be further analyzed using various biochemical assays, which are described in the accompanying JOVE protocol. The methods described here can be adapted for studies of the structural and functional properties of any mammalian multi-subunit chromatin remodeling and modifying complexes.

This protocol describes a procedure for generating and purifying wild type and mutant versions of the human INO80 chromatin remodeling complex. Epitope tagged versions of INO80 subunits are stably expressed in HEK293 cells, and complete complexes and complexes lacking specific sets of subunits are purified by immunoaffinity chromatography.

INO80 chromatin remodeling complexes regulate nucleosome dynamics and DNA accessibility by catalyzing ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling. Human INO80 ...

Isolation of Specific Genomic Regions and Identification of Associated Molecules by enChIP

The identification of molecules associated with specific genomic regions of interest is required to understand the mechanisms of regulation of the functions of these regions. To enable the non-biased identification of molecules interacting with a specific genomic region of interest, we recently developed the engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin immunoprecipitation (enChIP) technique. Here, we describe how to use enChIP to isolate specific genomic regions and identify the associated proteins and RNAs. First, a genomic region of interest is tagged with a transcription activator-like (TAL) protein or a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) complex consisting of a catalytically inactive form of Cas9 and a guide RNA. Subsequently, the chromatin is crosslinked and fragmented by sonication. The tagged locus is then immunoprecipitated and the crosslinking is reversed. Finally, the proteins or RNAs that are associated with the isolated chromatin are subjected to mass spectrometric or RNA sequencing analyses, respectively. This approach allows the successful identification of proteins and RNAs associated with a genomic region of interest.

The identification of molecules associated with specific genomic regions of interest is required to understand the mechanisms of regulation of the functions of these regions. This protocol describes procedures to perform engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin imunoprecipitation (enChIP) for identification of proteins and RNAs associated with a specific genomic region.

The identification of molecules associated with specific genomic regions of interest is required to understand the mechanisms of regulation of the ...

Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites

Retroviruses exhibit signature integration preferences on both the local and global scales. Here, we present a detailed protocol for (1) generation of diverse libraries of retroviral integration sites using ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR) amplification and next-generation sequencing (NGS), (2) mapping the genomic location of each virus-host junction using BEDTools, and (3) analyzing the data for statistical relevance. Genomic DNA extracted from infected cells is fragmented by digestion with restriction enzymes or by sonication. After suitable DNA end-repair, double-stranded linkers are ligated onto the DNA ends, and semi-nested PCR is conducted using primers complementary to both the long terminal repeat (LTR) end of the virus and the ligated linker DNA. The PCR primers carry sequences required for DNA clustering during NGS, negating the requirement for separate adapter ligation. Quality control (QC) is conducted to assess DNA fragment size distribution and adapter DNA incorporation prior to NGS. Sequence output files are filtered for LTR-containing reads, and the sequences defining the LTR and the linker are cropped away. Trimmed host cell sequences are mapped to a reference genome using BLAT and are filtered for minimally 97% identity to a unique point in the reference genome. Unique integration sites are scrutinized for adjacent nucleotide (nt) sequence and distribution relative to various genomic features. Using this protocol, integration site libraries of high complexity can be constructed from genomic DNA in three days. The entire protocol that encompasses exogenous viral infection of susceptible tissue culture cells to integration site analysis can therefore be conducted in approximately one to two weeks. Recent applications of this technology pertain to longitudinal analysis of integration sites from HIV-infected patients.

We describe a protocol for amplifying retroviral integration sites from the genomic DNA of infected cells, sequencing the amplified virus-host junctions, and then mapping these sequences to a reference genome. We also describe techniques to quantify the distribution of integration sites relative to various genomic annotations using BEDTools.

Retroviruses exhibit signature integration preferences on both the local and global scales. Here, we present a detailed protocol for (1) generation of ...