Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01 GM33397. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. J.G.G. is American Cancer Society Professor of Developmental Genetics.

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G., Wu, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Examining+the+contents+of+isolated+Xenopus+germinal+vesicles.">Examining the contents of isolated Xenopus germinal vesicles.</a> Methods. 51, 45-51 (2010).</li><li>Penrad-Mobayed, M., Kanhoush, R., Perrin, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tips+and+tricks+for+preparing+lampbrush+chromosome+spreads+from+Xenopus+tropicalis+oocytes.">Tips and tricks for preparing lampbrush chromosome spreads from Xenopus tropicalis oocytes.</a> Methods. 51, 37-44 (2010).</li><li>Morgan, G. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Working+with+oocyte+nuclei:+cytological+preparations+of+active+chromatin+and+nuclear+bodies+from+amphibian+germinal+vesicles.">Working with oocyte nuclei: cytological preparations of active chromatin and nuclear bodies from amphibian germinal vesicles.</a> Methods Mol. Biol. 463, 55-66 (2008).</li><li>Paine, P. L., Johnson, M. E., Lau, Y. T., Tluczek, L. J., Miller, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+oocyte+nucleus+isolated+in+oil+retains+in+vivo+structure+and+functions.">The oocyte nucleus isolated in oil retains in vivo structure and functions.</a> Biotechniques. 13, 238-246 (1992).</li><li>Handwerger, K. E., Cordero, J. A., Gall, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cajal+bodies,+nucleoli,+and+speckles+in+the+Xenopus+oocyte+nucleus+have+a+low-density,+sponge-like+structure.">Cajal bodies, nucleoli, and speckles in the Xenopus oocyte nucleus have a low-density, sponge-like structure.</a> Mol Biol Cell. 16, 202-211 (2005).</li><li>Patel, S., Novikova, N., Beenders, B., Austin, C., Bellini, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Live+images+of+RNA+polymerase+II+transcription+units.">Live images of RNA polymerase II transcription units.</a> Chromosome Res. 16, 223-232 (2008).</li><li>Gall, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Octagonal+nuclear+pores.">Octagonal nuclear pores.</a> J Cell Biol. 32, 391-399 (1967).</li><li>L&#246;schberger, 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=Super-resolution+imaging+visualizes+the+eightfold+symmetry+of+gp210+proteins+around+the+nuclear+pore+complex+and+resolves+the+central+channel+with+nanometer+resolution.">Super-resolution imaging visualizes the eightfold symmetry of gp210 proteins around the nuclear pore complex and resolves the central channel with nanometer resolution.</a> J Cell Sci. 125, 570-575 (2012).</li><li>Gottfert, F., 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=Coaligned+dual-channel+STED+nanoscopy+and+molecular+diffusion+analysis+at+20+nm+resolution.">Coaligned dual-channel STED nanoscopy and molecular diffusion analysis at 20 nm resolution.</a> Biophys J. 105, L01-L03 (2013).</li><li>Wallace, R. A., Jared, D. W., Dumont, J. N., Sega, M. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+incorporation+by+isolated+amphibian+oocytes:+III.+Optimum+incubation+conditions.">Protein incorporation by isolated amphibian oocytes: III. Optimum incubation conditions.</a> J. Exp. Zool. 184, 321-333 (1973).</li><li>Bridger, J., Spector, D. L., Goldman, R. D., Leinwand, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescence+in+situhybridization+to+DNA.">Fluorescence in situhybridization to DNA.</a> Cells: A Laboratory Manual. 3, 111.111-111.136 (1998).</li><li>Singer, R. H., Spector, D. L., Goldman, R. D., Leinwand, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+situ+hybridization+to+RNA.">In situ hybridization to RNA.</a> Cells: A Laboratory Manual. 3, 111-116 (1998).</li><li>Gardner, E. J., Nizami, Z. F., Talbot, C. C., Gall, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stable+intronic+sequence+RNA+(sisRNA),+a+new+class+of+noncoding+RNA+from+the+oocyte+nucleus+of+Xenopus+tropicalis.">Stable intronic sequence RNA (sisRNA), a new class of noncoding RNA from the oocyte nucleus of Xenopus tropicalis.</a> Genes Dev. 26, 2550-2559 (2012).</li><li>Talhouarne, G. J., Gall, J. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

As primeiras observações de lbcs &quot;vivos&quot; de GVs isolado mão de rãs e salamandras foram feitas quase 80 anos pelo biólogo norte-americano William Duryee, 19 antes da introdução de contraste de fase e microscopia DIC, antes de imuno fluorescente, e antes de FISH. As vantagens de lbcs para investigar detalhes da estrutura dos cromossomas e transcrição ao nível do gene indivíduo necessário desenvolvimento de técnicas para prender os lbcs para lâminas de vidro, para corrigi-los de uma forma...

A maioria dos vertebrados, com a notável exceção de marsupiais e mamíferos placentários, produzem ovos grandes vitelinados. Apesar de seu tamanho, por vezes enorme, esses ovos são células isoladas que atingem a sua dimensão final, enquanto ainda no ovário da fêmea. Ovos do ovário são chamados de ovócitos e cada normalmente contém um único núcleo gigante, conhecido desde o início do século 19 como a vesícula germinal ou simplesmente GV. 1 oócitos de rãs de laboratório comuns, Xenopus laevis e Xenopus tropicalis, atingir um diâmetro máximo de 1,2 milímetros e 0,8 mm, respectivamente (Figura 1). Os GVs de oócitos maduros destes dois sapos são 0,3 - 0,4 mm de diâmetro (Figuras 2, 3). Salamandras normalmente têm oócitos e GVs ainda maiores. Oócitos totalmente maduros do axolotl mexicano, Ambystoma mexicanum, são mais de 2 mm de diâmetro eo GV é de cerca de 0,5 mm. Assim, estes núcleos são facilmente visíveis a olho nu e podeser manipulados de várias maneiras que são impossíveis com os núcleos das células somáticas típicas. Igualmente notável é o tamanho gigantesco dos cromossomos dentro do GV, fato já reconhecido no final do século 19. Cromossomas individuais de Ambystoma e outros salamandras pode ser de até 1 mm de comprimento (Figuras 4, 5). Aqueles de Xenopus são consideravelmente menor, embora com comprimentos até 100 m ou mais, minimizam os cromossomas somáticas típicas da maioria dos organismos. Uma característica importante dos cromossomas oócito é a sua extraordinária actividade de transcrição, o que leva a um dos seus aspectos mais característicos morfológicas - centenas de malhas laterais emparelhados (Figura 5). Cada ciclo é constituído por uma ou algumas unidades de transcrição que sintetizam activamente o ARN. Os loops dar oócito cromossomos uma aparência difusa, o que levou ao nome do cromossomo &quot;lampbrush&quot; após a sua superficialsemelhança com as escovas usadas em épocas anteriores para limpar querosene chaminés da lâmpada. 2 O foco deste artigo é sobre o uso da GVS isoladas para estudar lbcs e organelas nucleares (nucléolo, órgãos histona de locos, e manchas). Duas técnicas bastante diferentes serão descritas. Na primeira técnica, mais comum, GVs são isolados numa solução salina utilizando uma pinça de joalheiro, brevemente enxaguados para remover gema aderente, e o envelope nuclear é removido, de novo com uma pinça de joalheiro. O conteúdo gelatinosos, contendo os lbcs e organelas nucleares, estão autorizados a resolver sobre uma lâmina de microscópio de vidro ou lamela. Tais preparações podem ser analisados ​​directamente por microscopia de contraste de fase ou DIC. Alternativamente, as preparações podem ser centrifugadas para anexar os lbcs e organelas para o slide ou lamela. Tais preparações podem ser processadas para análise molecular detalhada de ácidos nucleicos e proteínas, principalmente por imunofluorescência e fluorescent hibridação in situ (FISH). 3-7 Uma segunda técnica envolve o isolamento de GV em óleo mineral. 8 GVs isolada-do petróleo continuam transcricionalmente ativa por muitas horas e são potencialmente úteis para estudos onde se quer o conteúdo nucleares para ser o mais realista possível. 9,10 Uma vez que o índice de refracção de o &quot;SAP&quot; nuclear é próxima daquela das lbcs e outros organelos nucleares (Figura 3), as técnicas de microscopia pode ser um desafio com isolado GVs-óleo. Finalmente, por causa de seu tamanho e facilidade de manipulação, a GVS são material ideal para estudos sobre o envelope nuclear. O complexo do poro nuclear foi descrita pela primeira vez a partir de estudos de microscopia eletrônica em envelopes GV anfíbios 11 e observações SuperResolution mais recentes têm usado o mesmo material. 12,13

<table><tbody><tr><td>Paraformaldehyde (reagent grade, crystalline)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>P6148-500G</td><td>Despite warnings in many protocols, a concentrated solution can be stored indefinitely at RT</td></tr><tr><td>Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>A5040-100G</td><td>Sometimes referred to as MS-222</td></tr><tr><td>Ethicon RB-1 1/2 circle taper point 3-0 sutures</td><td>VWR&amp;nbsp;</td><td>95057-000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paraplast (paraffin wax)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>P3558-1KG</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt;-Phenylenediamine</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>P6001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gelatin</td><td>Grocery Store</td><td></td><td>Commercial Knox gelatin works fine</td></tr><tr><td>ProLong Gold antifade mountant</td><td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td><td>P10144</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gold Seal cover glass&amp;nbsp; 22 x 22 mm #1 1/2 (0.16 - 0.19 mm thick)</td><td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td><td>63786-01</td><td>These coverslips are the recommended thickness for superresolution microscopy</td></tr><tr><td>Dumont forceps #5</td><td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td><td>72700-D</td><td>http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/tweezers/dumont_positive_action.aspx</td></tr><tr><td>Paraffin oil (light)&amp;nbsp;</td><td>EMD Chemicals</td><td>PX0047-1</td><td>For isolating GVs in oil</td></tr><tr><td>Adhesive &lt;em&gt;in situ&lt;/em&gt; PCR and hybridization chambers (25 &amp;micro;L)</td><td>BioRad</td><td>Frame-Seal Slide Chambers #SLF0201</td><td>http://www.bio-rad.com/en-us/sku/slf0201-frame-seal-slide-chambers</td></tr><tr><td>Silicone isolators</td><td>Grace-Biolabs</td><td>select from catalog link</td><td>http://www.gracebio.com/life-science-products/microfluidics/silicone-isolators.html</td></tr><tr><td>Coplin jars and staining dishes</td><td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td><td>select from catalog link</td><td>http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/histology/staining.aspx</td></tr></tbody></table>

isolation of giant lampbrush chromosomes from living oocytes of frogs and salamanders

Nós descrevemos métodos para estudar os cromossomos gigantes transcricionalmente ativos lampbrush (lbcs) encontrados no oócito ou ovo unlaid, de rãs e salamandras. Lbcs individuais pode ser de até 1 mm de comprimento e que residam num núcleo gigantesca, em si até 0,5 mm de diâmetro. O grande tamanho dos cromossomas permite observações inigualáveis ​​de genes activos por microscopia óptica de luz, mas, ao mesmo tempo técnicas especiais são necessárias para o isolamento do núcleo, retirando o envelope nuclear, e espalhando os cromossomas numa lâmina de microscópio. O núcleo do oócito, também chamado de vesícula germinal (GV), é isolado num meio que permite que a gelificação parcial da actina nuclear e preserva a estrutura delicada das lbcs. Esta etapa é efectuada manualmente, sob um microscópio de dissecação com uma pinça de joalheiro. Em seguida, o envelope nuclear é removido, mais uma vez manualmente com uma pinça de joalheiro. O conteúdo nucleares são rapidamente transferidos para um meio que disperses o gel actina e permite que os lbcs não danificados para liquidar sobre uma lâmina de microscópio. Neste ponto, os lbcs e outras organelas nucleares pode ser visto por contraste de fase ou microscopia de contraste de interferência diferencial, embora mais pequenos detalhes são obscurecidos por movimento browniano. Por observação microscópica alta resolução ou a análise molecular, toda a preparação é centrifugada para prender os delicados lbcs firmemente à corrediça. Uma breve fixação em paraformaldeído é seguida por coloração de imunofluorescência ou hibridação in situ. Lbcs estão em um estado transcricionalmente ativo e seu enorme tamanho permite a análise molecular ao nível do gene individual usando microscopia de super-resolução confocal ou.

Para examinar os cromossomos lampbrush gigantes começa isolando oócitos de uma rã ou salamandra. A Figura 1 mostra um grupo de oócitos maduros em uma solução salina tamponada, após remoção a partir do ovário da rã, Xenopus. Tais oócitos permanecem em boas condições para dias à temperatura ambiente. O núcleo (ou vesícula germinal) é então removido a partir de um ovócito com um fórceps de joalheiro, quer numa solução salina (Figura 2...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Giant Lampbrush Chromosomes from Living Oocytes of Frogs and Salamanders at JoVE.com

Isolation of Giant Lampbrush Chromosomes from Living Oocytes of Frogs and Salamanders

Nós apresentamos técnicas simples para isolar gigantes cromossomos lampbrush transcricionalmente ativos a partir de oócitos de rãs e salamandras vivo. Nós descrevemos como observar esses cromossomos &quot;vivo&quot; por contraste de fase ou contraste de interferência diferencial, e como corrigi-los para hibridação in situ fluorescente ou coloração de imunofluorescência.

Isolamento de gigante lampbrush Cromossomos de Living oócitos de rãs e salamandras

We describe methods for studying the giant transcriptionally active lampbrush chromosomes (LBCs) found in the oocyte, or unlaid egg, of frogs and ...

isolation-giant-lampbrush-chromosomes-from-living-oocytes-frogs

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12.9K visualizações.  Carnegie Institution for Science.  Nós apresentamos técnicas simples para isolar gigantes cromossomos lampbrush transcricionalmente ativos a partir de oócitos de rãs e salamandras vivo. Nós descrevemos como observar esses cromossomos "vivo" por contraste de fase ou contraste de interferência diferencial, e como corrigi-los para hibridação in situ fluorescente ou coloração de imunofluorescência. 

Vídeo: Isolation of Giant Lampbrush Chromosomes from Living Oocytes of Frogs and Salamanders

Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development

Amphibian eggs have been widely used to study embryonic development. Early embryonic development is driven by maternally stored factors accumulated during oogenesis. In order to study roles of such maternal factors in early embryonic development, it is desirable to manipulate their functions from the very beginning of embryonic development. Conventional ways of gene interference are achieved by injection of antisense oligonucleotides (oligos) or mRNA into fertilized eggs, enabling under- or over-expression of specific proteins, respectively. However, these methods normally require more than several hours until protein expression is affected, and, hence, the interference of gene functions is not effective during early embryonic stages. Here, we introduce an experimental system in which expression levels of maternal proteins can be altered before fertilization. Xenopus laevis oocytes obtained from ovaries are defolliculated by incubating with enzymes. Antisense oligos or mRNAs are injected into defolliculated oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. These oocytes are in vitro matured to eggs at the metaphase II (MII) stage, followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). By this way, up to 10% of ICSI embryos can reach the swimming tadpole stage, thus allowing functional tests of specific gene knockdown or overexpression. This approach can be a useful way to study roles of maternally stored factors in early embryonic development.

Manipulation and In Vitro Maturation of Xenopus laevis Oocytes, Followed by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, to Study Embryonic Development

We describe methods of manipulating Xenopus laevis immature oocytes, in vitro maturation of oocytes to eggs, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This protocol allows degradation of some maternal proteins and overexpression of genes of interest at fertilization, and hence is valuable to study roles of specific factors in early embryonic development.

Manipulação e<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; Maturação<em&gt; Xenopus laevis</em&gt; Oócitos, seguido de injeção intracitoplasmática de espermatozóide, para estudar o desenvolvimento embrionário

Amphibian eggs have been widely used to study embryonic development. Early embryonic development is driven by maternally stored factors accumulated during ...

Biologia do Desenvolvimento

Reconstitution of Cell-cycle Oscillations in Microemulsions of Cell-free Xenopus Egg Extracts

Real-time measurement of oscillations at the single-cell level is important to uncover the mechanisms of biological clocks. Although bulk extracts prepared from Xenopus laevis eggs have been powerful in dissecting biochemical networks underlying the cell-cycle progression, their ensemble average measurement typically leads to a damped oscillation, despite each individual oscillator being sustained. This is due to the difficulty of perfect synchronization among individual oscillators in noisy biological systems. To retrieve the single-cell dynamics of the oscillator, we developed a droplet-based artificial cell system that can reconstitute mitotic cycles in cell-like compartments encapsulating cycling cytoplasmic extracts of Xenopus laevis eggs. These simple cytoplasmic-only cells exhibit sustained oscillations for over 30 cycles. To build more complicated cells with nuclei, we added demembranated sperm chromatin to trigger nuclei self-assembly in the system. We observed a periodic progression of chromosome condensation/decondensation and nuclei envelop breakdown/reformation, like in real cells. This indicates that the mitotic oscillator functions faithfully to drive multiple downstream mitotic events. We simultaneously tracked the dynamics of the mitotic oscillator and downstream processes in individual droplets using multi-channel time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. The artificial cell-cycle system provides a high-throughput framework for quantitative manipulation and analysis of mitotic oscillations with single-cell resolution, which likely provides important insights into the regulatory machinery and functions of the clock.

Reconstitution of Cell-cycle Oscillations in Microemulsions of Cell-free Xenopus Egg Extracts

We present a method for the generation of in vitro self-sustained mitotic oscillations at the single-cell level by encapsulating egg extracts of Xenopus laevis in water-in-oil microemulsions.

Reconstituição das oscilações do ciclo celular em microemulsões dos extratos de ovo sem célula Xenopus

Real-time measurement of oscillations at the single-cell level is important to uncover the mechanisms of biological clocks. Although bulk extracts ...

Bioquímica

Simultaneous Pre- and Post-synaptic Electrophysiological Recording from Xenopus Nerve-muscle Co-cultures

Much information about the coupling of presynaptic ionic currents with the release of neurotransmitter has been obtained from invertebrate preparations, most notably the squid giant synapse1. However, except for the preparation described here, few vertebrate preparations exist in which it is possible to make simultaneous measurements of neurotransmitter release and presynaptic ionic currents. Embryonic Xenopus motoneurons and muscle cells can be grown together in simple culture medium at room temperature; they will form functional synapses within twelve to twenty-four hours, and can be used to study nerve and muscle cell development and synaptic interactions for several days (until overgrowth occurs). Some advantages of these co-cultures over other vertebrate preparations include the simplicity of preparation, the ability to maintain the cultures and work at room temperature, and the ready accessibility of the synapses formed2-4. The preparation has been used widely to study the biophysical properties of presynaptic ion channels and the regulation of transmitter release5-8. In addition, the preparation has lent itself to other uses including the study of neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis9-12, molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter release13-15, the role of diffusible messengers in neuromodulation16,17, and in vitro synaptic plasticity18-19.

Simultaneous Pre- and Post-synaptic Electrophysiological Recording from Xenopus Nerve-muscle Co-cultures

This video demonstrates the procedures used to grow primary cultures of embryonic Xenopus nerve and muscle cells and the usefulness of this preparation for making simultaneous pre- and post-synaptic patch clamp recordings.

Simultânea de pré e pós-sináptica gravação eletrofisiológico de<em&gt; Xenopus</em&gt; Nervo músculo-Co-culturas

Much information about the coupling of  presynaptic ionic currents with the release of neurotransmitter has been obtained  from invertebrate preparations, ...

Neurociência

Live-cell Imaging and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Epithelial Cells in Xenopus laevis

Embryonic epithelial cells serve as an ideal model to study morphogenesis where multi-cellular tissues undergo changes in their geometry, such as changes in cell surface area and cell height, and where cells undergo mitosis and migrate. Furthermore, epithelial cells can also regulate morphogenetic movements in adjacent tissues1. A traditional method to study epithelial cells and tissues involve chemical fixation and histological methods to determine cell morphology or localization of particular proteins of interest. These approaches continue to be useful and provide "snapshots" of cell shapes and tissue architecture, however, much remains to be understood about how cells acquire specific shapes, how various proteins move or localize to specific positions, and what paths cells follow toward their final differentiated fate. High resolution live imaging complements traditional methods and also allows more direct investigation into the dynamic cellular processes involved in the formation, maintenance, and morphogenesis of multicellular epithelial sheets. Here we demonstrate experimental methods from the isolation of animal cap tissues from Xenopus laevis embryos to confocal imaging of epithelial cells and simple measurement approaches that together can augment molecular and cellular studies of epithelial morphogenesis.

Live-cell Imaging and Quantitative Analysis of Embryonic Epithelial Cells in Xenopus laevis

Xenopus embryonic epithelia are an ideal model system to study cell behaviors such as polarity development and shape change during epithelial morphogenesis. Traditional histology of fixed samples is increasingly being complemented by live-cell confocal imaging. Here we demonstrate methods to isolate frog tissues and visualize live epithelial cells and their cytoskeleton using live-cell confocal microscopy.

Em células vivas, Imagem e Análise Quantitativa de células embrionárias epiteliais em Xenopus laevis</em

Embryonic epithelial cells serve as an ideal model to study morphogenesis where multi-cellular tissues undergo changes in their geometry, such as changes ...

Biologia

Analysis of Transforming Growth Factor &#223; Family Cleavage Products Secreted Into the Blastocoele of Xenopus laevis Embryos

The two arms of the Transforming Growth Factor &#223; (Tgf&#223;) superfamily, represented by Tgf&#223;/Nodal or Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) ligands, respectively, play essential roles in embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Members of the Tgf&#223; family are made as inactive precursors that dimerize and fold within the endoplasmic reticulum. The precursor is subsequently cleaved into ligand and prodomain fragments. Although only the dimeric ligand can engage Tgf&#223; receptors and activate downstream signaling, there is growing recognition that the prodomain moiety contributes to ligand activity. This article describes a protocol that can be used to identify cleavage products generated during activation of Tgf&#223; precursor proteins. RNA encoding Tgf&#223; precursors are first microinjected into X. laevis embryos. The following day, cleavage products are collected from the blastocoele of&#160;gastrula stage embryos and analyzed on Western blots. This protocol can be completed relatively quickly, does not require expensive reagents and provides a source of concentrated Tgf&#223; cleavage products under physiologic conditions.

Analysis of Transforming Growth Factor &#223; Family Cleavage Products Secreted Into the Blastocoele of Xenopus laevis Embryos

When Transforming Growth Factor &#223; family precursor proteins are ectopically expressed in Xenopus laevis embryos, they dimerize, get cleaved and are secreted into the blastocoele, which begins at the late blastula to early gastrula stage. We describe a method for aspirating cleavage products from the blastocoele cavity for immunoblot analysis.

Análise do Fator de Crescimento Transformador ß Produtos de Decote Familiar Secretados Na Blastocoele de Embriões Xenopus laevis

The two arms of the Transforming Growth Factor &#223; (Tgf&#223;) superfamily, represented by Tgf&#223;/Nodal or Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) ligands, ...

Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling

Two electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology (TEVC) is a powerful tool to investigate the mechanism of ion transport1 for a wide variety of membrane proteins including ion channels2, ion pumps3, and transporters4. Recent developments have combined site-specific fluorophore labeling alongside TEVC to 
concurrently examine the conformational dynamics at specific residues and function of these proteins on the surface of single cells.
We will describe a method to study the conformational dynamics of membrane proteins by simultaneously monitoring fluorescence and current changes using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This approach can be used to examine the molecular motion of membrane proteins site-specifically following cysteine replacement and site-directed fluorophore labeling5,6. Furthermore, this method provides an approach to determine distance constraints between specific residues7,8. 
This is achieved by selectively attaching donor and acceptor fluorophores to two mutated cysteine residues of interest.
In brief, these experiments are performed following functional expression of the desired protein on the surface of Xenopus leavis oocytes. The large surface area of these oocytes enables facile functional measurements and a robust fluorescence signal5. It is also possible to readily change the extracellular conditions such as pH, ligand or cations/anions, which can provide further information on the mechanism of membrane proteins4. Finally, recent developments 
have also enabled the manipulation of select internal ions following co-expression with a second protein9.
Our protocol is described in multiple parts. First, cysteine scanning mutagenesis proceeded by fluorophore labeling is completed at residues located at the interface of the transmembrane and extracellular domains. Subsequent experiments are designed to identify residues which demonstrate large changes in fluorescence intensity (&lt;5%)3 upon a conformational change of the protein. Second, these changes in fluorescence intensity are compared to the kinetic parameters of 
the membrane protein in order to correlate the conformational dynamics to the function of the protein10. This enables a rigorous biophysical analysis of the molecular motion of the target protein. Lastly, two residues of the holoenzyme can be labeled with a donor and acceptor fluorophore in order to determine distance constraints using donor photodestruction methods. It is also possible to monitor the relative movement of protein subunits following labeling with a donor and acceptor fluorophore.

Examining the Conformational Dynamics of Membrane Proteins in situ with Site-directed Fluorescence Labeling

We will describe a method which measures the kinetics of ion transport of membrane proteins alongside site-specific analysis of conformational changes using fluorescence on single cells. This technique is adaptable to ion channels, transporters and ion pumps and can be utilized to determine distance constraints between protein subunits.

Examinando o Dynamics Conformacional de Proteínas de Membrana In situ Com Labeling-Site dirigido Fluorescência

Two electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology (TEVC) is a powerful tool to investigate the mechanism of ion transport1 for a wide variety of membrane ...

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

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

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

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

Produção de<em&gt; Xenopus tropicalis</em&gt; Egg Extrai identificar RNAs associada aos microtúbulos

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

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Protein synthesis is a fundamental process to gene expression impacting diverse biological processes notably adaptation to environmental conditions. The initiation step, which involves the assembly of the ribosomal subunits at the mRNA initiation codon, involved initiation factor including eIF4G1. Defects in this rate limiting step of translation are linked to diverse disorders. To study the potential consequences of such deregulations, Xenopus laevis oocytes constitute an attractive model with high degrees of conservation of essential cellular and molecular mechanisms with human. In addition, during meiotic maturation, oocytes are transcriptionally repressed and all necessary proteins are translated from preexisting, maternally derived mRNAs. This inexpensive model enables exogenous mRNA to become perfectly integrated with an effective translation. Here is described a protocol for assessing translation with a factor of interest (here eIF4G1) using stored maternal mRNA that are the first to be polyadenylated and translated during oocyte maturation as a physiological readout. At first, mRNA synthetized by in vitro transcription of plasmids of interest (here eIF4G1) are injected in oocytes and kinetics of oocyte maturation by Germinal Vesicle Breakdown detection is determined. The studied maternal mRNA target is the serine/threonine-protein-kinase mos. Its polyadenylation and its subsequent translation are investigated together with the expression and phosphorylation of proteins of the mos signaling cascade involved in oocyte maturation. Variations of the current protocol to put forward translational defects are also proposed to emphasize its general applicability. In light of emerging evidence that aberrant protein synthesis may be involved in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, such a model provides the opportunity to easily assess this impairment and identify new targets.

Xenopus laevis as a Model to Identify Translation Impairment

Protein synthesis control occurs mainly at the translation initiation step, deficiencies in which are linked to diverse disorders. To better understand their etiology, we described here a protocol using Xenopus laevis oocytes assessing the translation of mos transcript in the presence of a mutant of translation initiation factor eIF4G1.

Xenopus laevis como um modelo para identificar Tradução Impairment

Protein synthesis is a fundamental process to gene expression impacting diverse biological processes notably adaptation to environmental conditions. The ...

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis

During the vertebrate cell cycle chromatin undergoes extensive structural and functional changes. Upon mitotic entry, it massively condenses into rod shaped chromosomes which are moved individually by the mitotic spindle apparatus. Mitotic chromatin condensation yields chromosomes compacted fifty-fold denser as in interphase. During exit from mitosis, chromosomes have to re-establish their functional interphase state, which is enclosed by a nuclear envelope and is competent for replication and transcription. The decondensation process is morphologically well described, but in molecular terms poorly understood: We lack knowledge about the underlying molecular events and to a large extent the factors involved as well as their regulation. We describe here a cell-free system that faithfully recapitulates chromatin decondensation in vitro, based on mitotic chromatin clusters purified from synchronized HeLa cells and X. laevis egg extract. Our cell-free system provides an important tool for further molecular characterization of chromatin decondensation and its co-ordination with processes simultaneously occurring during mitotic exit such as nuclear envelope and pore complex re-assembly.

The molecular mechanisms of the decondensation of highly compacted mitotic chromatin are ill-defined. We present a cell-free assay based on mitotic chromatin clusters isolated from HeLa cells and Xenopus laevis egg extract that faithfully reconstitutes the decondensation process in vitro.

A Free Cell Ensaio para estudar Chromatin descondensação no fim da mitose

During the vertebrate cell cycle chromatin undergoes extensive structural and functional changes. Upon mitotic entry, it massively condenses into rod ...

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

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

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

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

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