This study was supported by a Merit Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and an NIH grant R01CA1385282522717 to RW.

1. Preparação de Materiais e Reagentes <ol><li> Rotular cada poço de uma cultura de tecido de 6 poços tratados placa de forma adequada para cada linha de célula ou condição a ser investigada. </li><li> Prepare meio de cultura de células 2x por dissolução de 1 g de meio em pó e 0,2 g de bicarbonato de sódio em água desionizada até um volume final de 50 ml. </li><li> Passa este meio através de um filtro de 0,2 um para esterilizar. </li><li> Adicionar os componentes adicionais necessários para a cultura normal da linha celular de interesse. Por exemplo, crescer CMT linha 167 das células em meio RPMI 1640 suplementado com 10% FBS e 1% de penicilina / estreptomicina solução. Aquece-se a média de 37 ° C em banho de água quente antes de ser utilizado. </li><li> Prepare meio de cultura celular 1x separadamente, como você faria para cultura de células normais da linha de células de interesse. </li><li> Prepare 1% de agar nobre por adição de 1 g de agar nobre a 100 ml de água desionizada. NOTA: ágar Noble não se dissolverá completamente com agitação só. </li><li> Preparar0,6% de agar nobre por adição de 0,6 g de agar nobre a 100 ml de água desionizada. Ambas as soluções de agar podem ser feitas em garrafas de 100 ml de vidro com tampas que podem ser fechadas para armazenagem a longo prazo. </li><li> Autoclave as misturas de agar nobres para esterilizar. Estas misturas podem ser feitas com antecedência e guardadas a 4 ° C, mas deve ser aquecido novamente no momento do experimento de agar até se ter dissolvido completamente. </li><li> Preparar a solução de cloreto de tetrazólio nitroazul, fazendo uma solução mãe de 1 mg / ml em 1x PBS (8 g de NaCl, 0,2 g de KCl, 1,44 g de Na 2 HPO 4, e 0,24 g de KH 2 PO 4 em H2O para volume final de 1000 ml ). Isto irá ser utilizado no final da experiência para corar as colónias. </li></ol> 2. chapeamento de camada inferior de Agar <ol><li> Solte a tampa na garrafa de 1% agar nobre e micro-ondas por cerca de 1-2 min. Durante o aquecimento no microondas, monitorar de perto a solução para evitar a ferver. Continuar o aquecimento, enquanto se mistura intermitentemente,ágar até estar completamente dissolvido e a solução é clara. NOTA: Use luvas resistentes ao calor para lidar com frasco após o aquecimento. Não fazer isso pode causar queimaduras ou ferimentos graves. </li><li> Coloque solução agar derretido e pré-aquecido meio de cultura 2x em um balde de gelo cheia de água quente da torneira (42 ° C). Também se coloca um tubo cónico de 50 ml num suporte de tubos no balde de gelo com água quente. Balde para capa de cultura de células de transferência para as etapas subseqüentes. </li><li> Para a camada inferior de agar, vai precisar de 1,5 ml de uma mistura de agar e meio por poço de uma placa de 6 poços. </li><li> Para garantir uma quantidade adequada da mistura, preparar um total de 12 ml para cada placa de 6 poços. </li><li> Comece por adição de 6 ml de meio de cultura para o tubo de 50 ml e em seguida 6 ml de solução de agar nobre a 1%. </li><li> Inverter o tubo cónico várias vezes para misturar. Trabalhando em um ritmo acelerado irá prevenir o endurecimento prematuro do agar macio. </li><li> Elaborar cerca de 5,5 ml de mistura em um 5 ml pi sorológicapette. </li><li> Permitir que as bolhas de ar a subir para o topo da coluna antes de depositar pipeta 1,5 ml desta mistura para cada poço. Tenha cuidado para evitar a deposição de quaisquer bolhas de ar nos poços da placa. </li><li> Cobrir as placas e permitir uma mistura de agar a solidificar à temperatura ambiente, na capa de cultura de células, durante 30 min. </li></ol> 3. chapeamento camada superior do agar contendo células <ol><li> Uma vez que a camada inferior de agar ter solidificado, começar a preparação da camada superior. </li><li> Em primeiro lugar, as células de colheita por tripsinização e diluí-los 1: 5 em meio de cultura (por exemplo, para 1 ml de tripsina, adicionar 4 ml de meio) num tubo de 15 ml. </li><li> Contagem de células e calcular o número de células por poço necessários para preparar uma suspensão de células final neste momento. Este número irá variar dependendo do tipo de célula. Use 5.000 células / poço como ponto de partida e ajustar, conforme necessário. Para este número de celular, você iria preparar uma suspensão de células de 6.667 células / ml (ou seja, cada poçol receberão 0,75 mL desta suspensão e 0,75 ml de ágar para um volume total de 1,5 ml; a concentração de células também será diluído 1: 2 para uma contagem de células total final de 5000). </li><li> O volume de suspensão de células por poço necessária de uma placa de 6 poços irá novamente ser de 1,5 ml. Prepare suspensão de células adicional totalizando 12 ml por 6 poços. </li><li> Derreter solução de agar a 0,6% em um micro-ondas como acima e colocar em balde de gelo contendo água quente juntamente com um tubo de 50 ml num suporte de tubos e a suspensão celular final do Passo 3.3. </li><li> Transfira o balde de gelo derretido com 0,6% de agar para capa de cultura de células para as etapas subseqüentes. </li><li> Misture 0,6% de agar e suspensão de células numa proporção de 1: 1, preparando-se um volume total de 12 ml por placa de 6 poços. 1,5 ml vai ser necessária por poço mas extra deve ser feita como acima. </li><li> Pipetar 6 ml de suspensão de células para o tubo de 50 ml. </li><li> Em seguida, adicionar 6 mL de 0,6% de agar para o tubo. NOTA: A temperatura desta mistura deve sermantido em torno de 42 ° C para evitar o endurecimento prematuro e para maximizar a sobrevivência celular. </li><li> Trabalhando rapidamente, pipeta esta mistura 2-3x para distribuir células, em seguida, elaborar 5,5 ml de mistura em uma pipeta de 5 ml sorológica. </li><li> Permitir que as bolhas de ar a subir para o topo da coluna antes de depositar pipeta 1,5 ml desta mistura para cada poço. Tenha cuidado para evitar a deposição de quaisquer bolhas de ar nos poços da placa. </li><li> Permitir mistura de células / agar para solidificar à temperatura ambiente, na capa de cultura de células, durante 30 minutos antes de colocar um 37 ° C humidificado incubadora de cultura de células. </li><li> O tempo necessário para a formação de colónias adequada varia para cada linha celular, tipicamente cerca de 21 dias. </li><li> Uma camada de meio de crescimento deve ser mantido ao longo da camada superior de ágar-ágar para evitar a dessecação. 100 ul de meio adicionado duas vezes por semana é suficiente para esta finalidade. </li></ol> 4. coloração das placas e contagem de colônias <ol><li> Células Stain, adicionando 200 _6; l de solução de cloreto de tetrazólio nitroazul por cavidade e incubando as placas durante a noite a 37 ° C. </li><li> Uma vez que as colônias estão manchadas, tirar fotografias de poços utilizando um gerador de imagens e contagem das colónias, usando software de análise de imagem. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Puck, T. T., Marcus, P. I., Cieciura, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clonal+growth+of+mammalian+cells+in+vitro;+growth+characteristics+of+colonies+from+single+HeLa+cells+with+and+without+a+feeder+layer.">Clonal growth of mammalian cells in vitro; growth characteristics of colonies from single HeLa cells with and without a feeder layer.</a> J Exp Med. 103, 273-283 (1956).</li><li>Taddei, M. L., Giannoni, E., Fiaschi, T., Chiarugi, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anoikis:+an+emerging+hallmark+in+health+and+diseases.">Anoikis: an emerging hallmark in health and diseases.</a> The Journal of pathology. 226, 380-393 (2012).</li><li>Wend, P., Holland, J. D., Ziebold, U., Birchmeier, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt+signaling+in+stem+and+cancer+stem+cells.">Wnt signaling in stem and cancer stem cells.</a> Semin Cell Dev Biol. 21, 855-863 (2010).</li><li>Reya, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+role+for+Wnt+signalling+in+self-renewal+of+haematopoietic+stem+cells.">A role for Wnt signalling in self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells.</a> Nature. 423, 409-414 (2003).</li><li>Klaus, A., Birchmeier, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt+signalling+and+its+impact+on+development+and+cancer.">Wnt signalling and its impact on development and cancer.</a> Nat Rev Cancer. 8, 387-398 (2008).</li><li>Clevers, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt/beta-catenin+signaling+in+development+and+disease.">Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in development and disease.</a> Cell. 127, 469-480 (2006).</li><li>Takahashi-Yanaga, F., Kahn, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+Wnt+signaling:+can+we+safely+eradicate+cancer+stem+cells.">Targeting Wnt signaling: can we safely eradicate cancer stem cells.</a> Clin Cancer Res. 16, 3153-3162 (2010).</li><li>De, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wnt/Ca2++signaling+pathway:+a+brief+overview.">Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway: a brief overview.</a> Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 43, 745-756 (2011).</li><li>Tennis, M. A., Vanscoyk, M. M., Wilson, L. A., Kelley, N., Winn, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methylation+of+Wnt7a+is+modulated+by+DNMT1+and+cigarette+smoke+condensate+in+non-small+cell+lung+cancer).">Methylation of Wnt7a is modulated by DNMT1 and cigarette smoke condensate in non-small cell lung cancer).</a> PLoS One. 7, (2012).</li><li>Winn, R. 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=Restoration+of+Wnt-7a+expression+reverses+non-small+cell+lung+cancer+cellular+transformation+through+frizzled-9-mediated+growth+inhibition+and+promotion+of+cell+differentiation.">Restoration of Wnt-7a expression reverses non-small cell lung cancer cellular transformation through frizzled-9-mediated growth inhibition and promotion of cell differentiation.</a> J Biol Chem. 280, 19625-19634 (2005).</li><li>Winn, R. 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=Antitumorigenic+effect+of+Wnt+7a+and+Fzd+9+in+non-small+cell+lung+cancer+cells+is+mediated+through+ERK-5-dependent+activation+of+peroxisome+proliferator-activated+receptor+gamma.">Antitumorigenic effect of Wnt 7a and Fzd 9 in non-small cell lung cancer cells is mediated through ERK-5-dependent activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma.</a> J Biol Chem. 281, 26943-26950 (2006).</li><li>Tennis, M. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Em confirmação vitro da função supressora tumoral de proteínas de sinalização é difícil. Um dos ensaios mais rigorosos disponíveis para investigar essa propriedade é o ensaio de formação de colônia agar macio. Aqui, ilustramos o ensaio de formação de colónia em agar macio, utilizando uma linha de células de carcinoma de pulmão de murino que sobre-expressa de forma estável e Wnt7a Fzd9 em comparação com a sua linha de células parental CMT167. Há vári...

O ensaio de formação de colónia em agar mole é uma técnica amplamente utilizada para avaliar a transformação celular in vitro. Historicamente, um outro ensaio, o ensaio clonogénico, descrito por Puck et al., Em 1956, foi utilizado para avaliar a capacidade das células para formarem colónias 1. Nesta técnica, as células foram dispersas numa placa de cultura e cultivadas na presença de células &quot;alimentadoras&quot; ou meio condicionado para fornecer factores de crescimento necessários. A limitação dessa técnica é que ele só forneceu informações sobre a formação de colônias. As células normais são impedidas de crescimento independente de ancoragem, devido a um determinado tipo de morte apoptótica, chamado anoikis 2. No entanto, as células transformadas têm a capacidade de crescer e dividir-se sem se ligar a um substrato. Para capitalizar sobre este conceito, os pesquisadores desenvolveram o ensaio de formação de colônia agar macio. O ensaio de formação de colónia em agar mole foi modificado desde que, nos anos mais recentes, para tratar spnecessidades ecific. Uma variação envolve a incorporação de corante fluorométrico para permitir a high-throughput contagem de colónias. Outra variação envolve a utilização de solução de agar especializada para permitir a recuperação de células viáveis ​​após a formação de colónias quando são necessárias amostras de proteína ou de ADN. No ensaio de formação de colónia em agar mole tradicional, as células são cultivadas numa camada de agar mole misturado com meio de cultura de células que repousa sobre uma outra camada de agar mole, também misturado com meio de cultura celular, mas que contém uma maior concentração de ágar. Isto impede que as células adiram à placa de cultura, ainda permite células transformadas de modo a formar colónias visíveis. O raciocínio por detrás desta técnica é que as células normais de células dependem de contacto de matriz extracelular para ser capaz de crescer e dividir. Por outro lado, as células transformadas têm a capacidade de crescer e dividir independentemente do seu ambiente circundante. Portanto, as células capazes de formar colónias de uma forma independente de ancoragem foram cConsiderado para ser transformada e carcinogénico. O objetivo geral deste método é medir essa capacidade das células de uma forma semi-quantitativa e rigorosa. A via de sinalização Wnt é essencial na embriogênese e muitas vezes de-regulada na tumorigênese 3-6. Existem vários caminhos associados à sinalização Wnt. A via de sinalização Wnt canônica envolve e regulação da transcrição de genes a jusante através de seus efeitos sobre o coactivator transcricional beta-catenina. Wnts também sinalizar através de várias vias não canónicos, por exemplo, a via planar polaridade celular, que regula os elementos envolvidos na estrutura do citoesqueleto 7, e da via Wnt-cálcio, que regula a libertação de cálcio do retículo endoplasmático 8. Ligantes Wnt exercer a sua actividade através de receptores Frizzled obrigatório. Embora vários Wnts foram mostrados para ser regulada positivamente em cancro do pulmão, Wnt7a demonstrou ser regulada para baixo em não-smalcâncer de pulmão de células l através metilação do promotor 9. Wnt7a se liga Fzd9 e actua como um supressor de tumor através de uma via não-canónica. Restauração de Wnt-7a e FZD-9 inibe o crescimento de células não-pequenas de cancro do pulmão de células 10. Os efeitos da Wnt7a / Fzd9 são mediados através da activação de ERK-5, que por sua vez, activa γ do receptor activado por proliferador de peroxissoma (PPARy) 11,12. Aqui, mostramos que a sobre-expressão de Wnt7a e Fzd9 resulta na supressão do crescimento independente de ancoragem de uma linha de células de carcinoma de pulmão de murino. CMT167 células de ratinho foram derivadas de um carcinoma do pulmão em ratos C57BL / 13 e lcrf ratinhos foram estavelmente transfectadas com Wnt7a e Fzd9. A sobre-expressão de Wnt7a e Fzd9 foram confirmados por PCR quantitativo e em (Q-PCR) e a funcionalidade de Wnt7a e Fzd9 superexpressão foi confirmada através da activação de PPARy jusante.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="573">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Name of Material/ Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Cancer Cell Line of Interest</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10032302</td>
			<td>CMT-167 Cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Powdered RPMI 1640 Medium</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31800-089</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to prepare 2X cell culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Liquid RPMI 1650 Medium</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Cellgro</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10-040-CV</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Referred to as 1X cell culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SH30910.03</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to supplement cell culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">CellGro</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">30-002-Cl</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in cell culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:216px;">Difco Noble Agar</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">BD Biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">214230</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to prepare 1.0% and 0.6% Agar.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BP-328-1</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in 2X cell culture medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Cellgro</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25-050-Cl</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Sterile Bottle-Top Filters</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">09-761-126</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to sterile filter 2X medium.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Lipofectamine Reagent</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">18324-020</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used in PPAR-RE luciferase assay.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">6-well Plates Tissue-culture Treated</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">37 degree C/5% CO2 Incubator</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Chemi-Doc Imager</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Bio-Rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to take pictures of colonies.&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:216px;">Quantity One Software</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Bio-Rad</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Used to count cell colonies.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">15mL Conical Tubes</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">50mL Conical Tubes</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">250mL Erlenmeyer Flasks</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Microwave</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">5mL Serological Pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Pipette Aid</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Micropipette</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Hemacytometer w/ cover slip</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Pipette Tips</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Inverted Light Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Heat-Resistant Gloves</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
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		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Saran Wrap</td>
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			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
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		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ice Bucket</td>
			<td style="width:71px;"></td>
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			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

the soft agar colony formation assay

Anchorage-independent growth is the ability of transformed cells to grow independently of a solid surface, and is a hallmark of carcinogenesis. The soft agar colony formation assay is a well-established method for characterizing this capability in vitro and is considered to be one of the most stringent tests for malignant transformation in cells. This assay also allows for semi-quantitative evaluation of this capability in response to various treatment conditions. Here, we will demonstrate the soft agar colony formation assay using a murine lung carcinoma cell line, CMT167, to demonstrate the tumor suppressive effects of two members of the Wnt signaling pathway, Wnt7A and Frizzled-9 (Fzd-9). Concurrent overexpression of Wnt7a and Fzd-9 caused an inhibition of colony formation in CMT167 cells. This shows that expression of Wnt7a ligand and its Frizzled-9 receptor is sufficient to suppress tumor growth in a murine lung carcinoma model.

A expressão de Wnt7a e Fzd9 em CMT167 células é eficaz na supressão de tumores, como ilustrado pelo nosso ensaio de formação de colónia em agar mole. Preliminarmente, utilizou-Q-PCR para mostrar que Wnt7a Fzd9 ARNm e são expressos em níveis baixos em células CMT167. CMT167 células mostraram níveis baixos de Wnt7a endógena e Fzd9 quando comparado com células MLE-12, uma linha de células epiteliais de pulmão de murino transformadas com SV40 (Figura 1). Em seguida, transfectadas CMT167 cél...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay at JoVE.com

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

The soft agar colony formation assay is a method used to confirm cellular anchorage-independent growth in vitro. The goal of this protocol is to illustrate a stringent method for the detection of the tumorigenic potential of transformed cells and the tumor suppressive effects of proteins on transformed cells.

A Formação Ensaio macio Agar Colony

Anchorage-independent growth is the ability of transformed cells to grow independently of a solid surface, and is a hallmark of carcinogenesis. The soft ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

110.6K visualizações.  University of Illinois at Chicago. The soft agar colony formation assay is a method used to confirm cellular anchorage-independent growth in vitro. The goal of this protocol is to illustrate a stringent method for the detection of the tumorigenic potential of transformed cells and the tumor suppressive effects of proteins on transformed cells.

Vídeo: The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

Assay for Adhesion and Agar Invasion in S. cerevisiae

Yeasts are found in natural biofilms, where many microorganisms colonize surfaces. In artificial environments, such as surfaces of man-made objects, biofilms can reduce industrial productivity, destroy structures, and threaten human life. 1-3 On the other hand, harnessing the power of biofilms can help clean the environment and generate sustainable energy. 4-8
The ability of S. cerevisiae to colonize surfaces and participate in complex biofilms was mostly ignored until the rediscovery of the differentiation programs triggered by various signaling pathways and environmental cues in this organism. 9, 10 The continuing interest in using S. cerevisiae as a model organism to understand the interaction and convergence of signaling pathways, such as the Ras-PKA, Kss1 MAPK, and Hog1 osmolarity pathways, quickly placed S. cerevisiae in the junction of biofilm biology and signal transduction research. 11-20 To this end, differentiation of yeast cells into long, adhesive, pseudohyphal filaments became a convenient readout for the activation of signal transduction pathways upon various environmental changes. However, filamentation is a complex collection of phenotypes, which makes assaying for it as if it were a simple phenotype misleading. In the past decade, several assays were successfully adopted from bacterial biofilm studies to yeast research, such as MAT formation assays to measure colony spread on soft agar and crystal violet staining to quantitatively measure cell-surface adherence. 12, 21 However, there has been some confusion in assays developed to qualitatively assess the adhesive and invasive phenotypes of yeast in agar.
Here, we present a simple and reliable method for assessing the adhesive and invasive quality of yeast strains with easy-to-understand steps to isolate the adhesion assessment from invasion assessment. Our method, adopted from previous studies, 10, 16 involves growing cells in liquid media and plating on differential nutrient conditions for growth of large spots, which we then wash with water to assess adhesion and rub cells completely off the agar surface to assess invasion into the agar. We eliminate the need for streaking cells onto agar, which affects the invasion of cells into the agar. In general, we observed that haploid strains that invade agar are always adhesive, yet not all adhesive strains can invade agar medium. Our approach can be used in conjunction with other assays to carefully dissect the differentiation steps and requirements of yeast signal transduction, differentiation, quorum sensing, and biofilm formation.

We describe a qualitative assay for yeast adhesion and agar invasion as a measure of invasive and pseudohyphal differentiation. This simple assay can be used to assess the invasive phenotype of various mutants as well as the effects environmental cues and signaling pathways on yeast differentiation.

Ensaio para a Adesão e Invasão Agar em S. cerevisiae

Yeasts are found in natural biofilms, where many microorganisms colonize surfaces. In artificial environments, such as surfaces of man-made objects, ...

Biologia

Supported Planar Bilayers for the Formation of Study of Immunological Synapses and Kinapse

Supported planar bilayers are powerful tools that can be used to model the molecular interactions in an immunological synapse.   To mimic the interactions between lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells, we use Ni2+-chelating lipids to anchor recombinant cell adhesion and MHC proteins to the upper leaflet of a bilayer with poly-histidine tags. Planar bilayers are generated by preparing lipid, treating the glass surfaces where the bilayer will form, and then forming the bilayer in a specialized chamber containing a flow-cell where the lymphocytes will be added.  Then, bilayers are charged with Ni and his-tagged recombinant proteins are added.  Finally,  lymphocytes are injected into the flow cell and TIRF microscopy can be used to image synapse formation and the mechanisms that control T cell locomotion, sites of receptor sorting,  and sites of receptor degradation.

Supported planar bilayers are powerful tools that can be used to model the molecular interactions in an immunological synapse. Here, we show methods for anchoring cell adhesion proteins known to modulate synapse formation to the upper leaflet of the lipid bilyer and visualize synapse formation using TIRF microscopy.

Suportados Bicamadas Planar para a Formação do Estudo da Sinapses imunológicas e Kinapse

Supported planar bilayers are powerful tools that can be used to model the molecular interactions in an immunological synapse.   To mimic the interactions ...

Isolating Stem Cells from Soft Musculoskeletal Tissues

Adult stem cells have long been discussed in regards to their application in regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells have generated a great deal of excitement for treating injured and diseased tissues due to their impressive capabilities to undergo multi-lineage cell differentiation and their self-renewal ability. Most importantly, these qualities have made them advantageous for use in autologous cell transplantation therapies. The current protocol will introduce the readers to the modified preplate technique where soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, e.g. tendon and muscle, are 1st enzymatically dissociated and then placed in collagen coated flasks with medium. The supernatant, which is composed of medium and the remaining floating cells, is serially transferred daily to new flasks. The stem cells are the slowest to adhere to the flasks which is usually takes 5-7 days (serial transfers or preplates) . By using this technique, adult stem cells present in these tissues can be easily harvested through fairly non-invasive procedures.

Isolating adult stem cells from musculoskeletal soft tissues based on the cell's adherence speed to flask.

Isolar células-tronco de tecidos moles músculo-esqueléticas

Adult stem cells have long been discussed in regards to their application in regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells have generated a great deal of ...

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

RhoC GTPase has 91% homology to RhoA GTPase. Because of its prevalence in cells, many reagents and techniques for RhoA GTPase have been developed. However, RhoC GTPase is expressed in metastatic cancer cells at relatively low levels. Therefore, few RhoC-specific reagents have been developed. We have adapted a Rho activation assay to detect RhoC GTPase. This technique utilizes a GST-Rho binding domain fusion protein to pull out active RhoC GTPase. In addition, we can harvest total protein at the beginning of the assay to determine levels of total (GTP and GDP bound) RhoC GTPase. This allows for the determination of active versus total RhoC GTPase in the cell. Several commercial versions of this procedure have been developed however, the commercial kits are optimized for RhoA GTPase and typically do not work well for RhoC GTPase. Parts of the assay have been modified as well as development of a RhoC-specific antibody.

This protocol utilizes a pull down assay to determine the levels of active RhoC GTPase within cells.

RhoC Assay Activation GTPase

RhoC GTPase has 91% homology to RhoA GTPase.  Because of its prevalence in cells, many reagents and techniques for RhoA GTPase have been developed.  ...

Yeast Colony Embedding Method

Patterning of different cell types in embryos is a key mechanism in metazoan development. Communities of microorganisms, such as colonies and biofilms also display patterns of cell types. For example, in the yeast S. cerevisiae, sporulated cells and pseudohyphal cells are not uniformly distributed in colonies. The functional importance of patterning and the molecular mechanisms that underlie these patterns are still poorly understood.
One challenge with respect to investigating patterns of cell types in fungal colonies is that unlike metazoan tissue, cells in colonies are relatively weakly attached to one another. In particular, fungal colonies do not contain the same extensive level of extracellular matrix found in most tissues . Here we report on a method for embedding and sectioning yeast colonies that reveals the interior patterns of cell types in these colonies. The method can be used to prepare thick sections (0.5 &mu;) useful for light microscopy and thin sections (0.1 &mu;) suitable for transmission electron microscopy. Asci and pseudohyphal cells can easily be distinguished from ovoid yeast cells by light microscopy , while the interior structure of these cells can be visualized by EM.
The method is based on surrounding colonies with agar, infiltrating them with Spurr's medium, and then sectioning. Colonies with a diameter in the range of 1-2 mm are suitable for this protocol. In addition to visualizing the interior of colonies, the method allows visualization of the region of the colony that invades the underlying agar.

A method for embedding yeast colonies allowing sectioning for light and electron microscopy. This protocol allows determination of the distribution of sporulated cells and pseudohyphal cells within colonies providing a new tool toward understanding the organization of cell types within a fungal community.

Levedura Método Embedding Colony

Patterning of  different cell types in embryos is a key mechanism in metazoan development. Communities of microorganisms, such as colonies and biofilms ...

Clonogenic Assay: Adherent Cells

The clonogenic (or colony forming) assay has been established for more than 50 years; the original paper describing the technique was published in 19561. Apart from documenting the method, the initial landmark study generated the first radiation-dose response curve for X-ray irradiated mammalian (HeLa) cells in culture1. Basically, the clonogenic assay enables an assessment of the differences in reproductive viability (capacity of cells to produce progeny; i.e. a single cell to form a colony of 50 or more cells) between control untreated cells and cells that have undergone various treatments such as exposure to ionising radiation, various chemical compounds (e.g. cytotoxic agents) or in other cases genetic manipulation. The assay has become the most widely accepted technique in radiation biology and has been widely used for evaluating the radiation sensitivity of different cell lines. Further, the clonogenic assay is commonly used for monitoring the efficacy of radiation modifying compounds and for determining the effects of cytotoxic agents and other anti-cancer therapeutics on colony forming ability, in different cell lines. A typical clonogenic survival experiment using adherent cells lines involves three distinct components, 1) treatment of the cell monolayer in tissue culture flasks, 2) preparation of single cell suspensions and plating an appropriate number of cells in petri dishes and 3) fixing and staining colonies following a relevant incubation period, which could range from 1-3 weeks, depending on the cell line. Here we demonstrate the general procedure for performing the clonogenic assay with adherent cell lines with the use of an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (FEP-1811)2. Also, our aims are to describe common features of clonogenic assays including calculation of the plating efficiency and survival fractions after exposure of cells to radiation, and to exemplify modification of radiation-response with the use of a natural antioxidant formulation.

The applicability of the clonogenic assay for evaluating reproductive viability has been established for more than 50 years. Here we demonstrate the general procedure for performing the clonogenic assay with adherent cells.

Clonogênica Ensaio: células aderentes

The clonogenic (or colony forming) assay has been established for more than 50 years; the original paper describing the technique was published in 19561. ...

A Matrigel-Based Tube Formation Assay to Assess the Vasculogenic Activity of Tumor Cells

Over the past several decades, a tube formation assay using growth factor-reduced Matrigel has been typically employed to demonstrate the angiogenic activity of vascular endothelial cells in vitro1-5. However, recently growing evidence has shown that this assay is not limited to test vascular behavior for endothelial cells. Instead, it also has been used to test the ability of a number of tumor cells to develop a vascular phenotype6-8. This capability was consistent with their vasculogenic behavior identified in xenotransplanted animals, a process known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM)9. There is a multitude of evidence demonstrating that tumor cell-mediated VM plays a vital role in the tumor development, independent of endothelial cell angiogenesis6, 10-13. For example, tumor cells were found to participate in the blood perfused, vascular channel formation in tissue samples from melanoma and glioblastoma patients8, 10, 11. Here, we described this tubular network assay as a useful tool in evaluation of vasculogenic activity of tumor cells. We found that some tumor cell lines such as melanoma B16F1 cells, glioblastoma U87 cells, and breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells are able to form vascular tubules; but some do not such as colon cancer HCT116 cells. Furthermore, this vascular phenotype is dependent on cell numbers plated on the Matrigel. Therefore, this assay may serve as powerful utility to screen the vascular potential of a variety of cell types including vascular cells, tumor cells as well as other cells.

A tube formation assay is used to evaluate vascular activity of tumor cells.

A Matrigel-Based Assay formação do tubo para avaliar a atividade vasculogênica de células tumorais

Over the past several decades, a tube formation assay using growth factor-reduced Matrigel has been typically employed to demonstrate the angiogenic ...

A Quantitative Assay for Insulin-expressing Colony-forming Progenitors

The field of pancreatic stem and progenitor cell biology has been hampered by a lack of in vitro functional and quantitative assays that allow for the analysis of the single cell. Analyses of single progenitors are of critical importance because they provide definitive ways to unequivocally demonstrate the lineage potential of individual progenitors. Although methods have been devised to generate "pancreatospheres" in suspension culture from single cells, several limitations exist. First, it is time-consuming to perform single cell deposition for a large number of cells, which in turn commands large volumes of culture media and space. Second, numeration of the resulting pancreatospheres is labor-intensive, especially when the frequency of the pancreatosphere-initiating progenitors is low. Third, the pancreatosphere assay is not an efficient method to allow both the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic progenitors in the same culture well, restricting the usefulness of the assay.
To overcome these limitations, a semi-solid media based colony assay for pancreatic progenitors has been developed and is presented in this report. This method takes advantage of an existing concept from the hematopoietic colony assay, in which methylcellulose is used to provide viscosity to the media, allowing the progenitor cells to stay in three-dimensional space as they undergo proliferation as well as differentiation. To enrich insulin-expressing colony-forming progenitors from a heterogeneous population, we utilized cells that express neurogenin (Ngn) 3, a pancreatic endocrine progenitor cell marker. Murine embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived Ngn3 expressing cells tagged with the enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter were sorted and as many as 25,000 cells per well were plated into low-attachment 24-well culture dishes. Each well contained 500 &mu;L of semi-solid media with the following major components: methylcellulose, Matrigel, nicotinamide, exendin-4, activin &beta;B, and conditioned media collected from murine ES cell-derived pancreatic-like cells. After 8 to 12 days of culture, insulin-expressing colonies with distinctive morphology were formed and could be further analyzed for pancreatic gene expression using quantitative RT-PCR and immunoflourescent staining to determine the lineage composition of each colony.
In summary, our colony assay allows easy detection and quantification of functional progenitors within a heterogeneous population of cells. In addition, the semi-solid media format allows uniform presentation of extracellular matrix components and growth factors to cells, enabling progenitors to proliferate and differentiate in vitro. This colony assay provides unique opportunities for mechanistic studies of pancreatic progenitor cells at the single cell level.

A three-dimensional clonogenic assay that allows pancreatic-like progenitors to differentiate into insulin-expressing colonies is described. This method takes advantage of semi-solid media containing methylcellulose, Matrigel and growth factors, in which single progenitors proliferate and differentiate in vitro, permitting quantification of the number of functional progenitors in a population.

Uma análise quantitativa para expressar Insulin-formadoras de colônias Progenitores

The field of pancreatic stem and progenitor cell biology has been hampered by a lack of in vitro functional and quantitative assays that allow for the ...

A Semi-quantitative Approach to Assess Biofilm Formation Using Wrinkled Colony Development

Biofilms, or surface-attached communities of cells encapsulated in an extracellular matrix, represent a common lifestyle for many bacteria. Within a biofilm, bacterial cells often exhibit altered physiology, including enhanced resistance to antibiotics and other environmental stresses 1. Additionally, biofilms can play important roles in host-microbe interactions. Biofilms develop when bacteria transition from individual, planktonic cells to form complex, multi-cellular communities 2. In the laboratory, biofilms are studied by assessing the development of specific biofilm phenotypes. A common biofilm phenotype involves the formation of wrinkled or rugose bacterial colonies on solid agar media 3. Wrinkled colony formation provides a particularly simple and useful means to identify and characterize bacterial strains exhibiting altered biofilm phenotypes, and to investigate environmental conditions that impact biofilm formation. Wrinkled colony formation serves as an indicator of biofilm formation in a variety of bacteria, including both Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis 4, and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Vibrio cholerae 5, Vibrio parahaemolyticus 6, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7, and Vibrio fischeri 8.
The marine bacterium V. fischeri has become a model for biofilm formation due to the critical role of biofilms during host colonization: biofilms produced by V. fischeri promote its colonization of the Hawaiian bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes 8-10. Importantly, biofilm phenotypes observed in vitro correlate with the ability of V. fischeri cells to effectively colonize host animals: strains impaired for biofilm formation in vitro possess a colonization defect 9,11, while strains exhibiting increased biofilm phenotypes are enhanced for colonization 8,12. V. fischeri therefore provides a simple model system to assess the mechanisms by which bacteria regulate biofilm formation and how biofilms impact host colonization.
In this report, we describe a semi-quantitative method to assess biofilm formation using V. fischeri as a model system. This method involves the careful spotting of bacterial cultures at defined concentrations and volumes onto solid agar media; a spotted culture is synonymous to a single bacterial colony. This 'spotted culture' technique can be utilized to compare gross biofilm phenotypes at single, specified time-points (end-point assays), or to identify and characterize subtle biofilm phenotypes through time-course assays of biofilm development and measurements of the colony diameter, which is influenced by biofilm formation. Thus, this technique provides a semi-quantitative analysis of biofilm formation, permitting evaluation of the timing and patterning of wrinkled colony development and the relative size of the developing structure, characteristics that extend beyond the simple overall morphology.

We provide a simple, semi-quantitative method to investigate biofilm formation in vitro. This method takes advantage of the Zeiss stemi 2000-C Dissecting Microscope (with camera attachment) to monitor both the timing and pattern of biofilm formation, as assessed by the development of wrinkled colonies.

Uma abordagem semi-quantitativa para avaliar formação de biofilmes usando o desenvolvimento da colônia enrugado

Biofilms, or surface-attached communities of cells encapsulated in an extracellular matrix, represent a common lifestyle for many bacteria. Within a ...

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using this protocol, angiogenesis may be measured in vitro in a fast, quantifiable manner. Primary or immortalized endothelial cells are mixed with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane matrix. The endothelial cells form capillary like structures in response to angiogenic signals found in conditioned media. The tube formation occurs quickly with endothelial cells beginning to align themselves within 1&#160;hr and lumen-containing tubules beginning to appear within 2 hr. Tubes can be visualized using a phase contrast inverted microscope, or the cells can be treated with calcein AM prior to the assay and tubes visualized through fluorescence or confocal microscopy. The number of branch sites/nodes, loops/meshes, or number or length of tubes formed can be easily quantified as a measure of in vitro angiogenesis. In summary, this assay can be used to identify genes and pathways that are involved in the promotion or inhibition of angiogenesis in a rapid, reproducible, and quantitative manner.

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

The tube formation assay is a fast, quantifiable method for measuring in vitro angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are combined with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane extract. Tube formation occurs within hours and newly formed tubules easily quantified.

Endotelial Tubo celular Formação ensaio para a<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; Estudo da angiogênese

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using ...