We thank J. Kamenz, Y. Chen, and W. Y. C. Huang for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 GM110564, P50 GM107615, and R35 GM131792) awarded to James E. Ferrell, Jr.

All methods described here have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Stanford University.
1. Preparation of slides and coverslips
<ol>
	<li>Apply a layer of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) adhesive tape to a glass slide with a roller applicator. Cut off excessive tape over the edges with a clean razor blade. Prepare FEP tape-coated coverslips in the same way (Figure 1A).</li>
	<li>Apply a double-sided sticky imaging sp...

<ol>
	<li>Murray, A. W., Kirschner, 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=Cyclin+synthesis+drives+the+early+embryonic+cell+cycle.">Cyclin synthesis drives the early embryonic cell cycle.</a> Nature. 339 (6222), 275-280 (1989).</li><li>Dunphy, W. G., Brizuela, L., Beach, D., Newport, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Xenopus+cdc2+protein+is+a+component+of+MPF,+a+cytoplasmic+regulator+of+mitosis.">The Xenopus cdc2 protein is a component of MPF, a cytoplasmic regulator of mitosis.</a> Cell. 54 (3), 423-431 (1988).</li><li>Minshull, J., Golsteyn, R., Hill, C. S., Hunt, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+A-+and+B-type+cyclin+associated+cdc2+kinases+in+Xenopus+turn+on+and+off+at+different+times+in+the+cell+cycle.">The A- and B-type cyclin associated cdc2 kinases in Xenopus turn on and off at different times in the cell cycle.</a> EMBO J. 9 (9), 2865-2875 (1990).</li><li>Wu, J. Q., 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=PP1-mediated+dephosphorylation+of+phosphoproteins+at+mitotic+exit+is+controlled+by+inhibitor-1+and+PP1+phosphorylation.">PP1-mediated dephosphorylation of phosphoproteins at mitotic exit is controlled by inhibitor-1 and PP1 phosphorylation.</a> Nature Cell Biology. 11 (5), 644-651 (2009).</li><li>Pomerening, J. R., Sontag, E. D., Ferrell, J. 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(139), e58240 (2018).</li><li>Oakey, J., Gatlin, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microfluidic+Encapsulation+of+Demembranated+Sperm+Nuclei+in+Xenopus+Egg+Extracts.">Microfluidic Encapsulation of Demembranated Sperm Nuclei in Xenopus Egg Extracts.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 2018 (8), (2018).</li><li>Smythe, C., Newport, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systems+for+the+study+of+nuclear+assembly,+DNA+replication,+and+nuclear+breakdown+in+Xenopus+laevis+egg+extracts.">Systems for the study of nuclear assembly, DNA replication, and nuclear breakdown in Xenopus laevis egg extracts.</a> Methods in Cell Biology. 35, 449-468 (1991).</li><li>Field, C. M., 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=Actin+behavior+in+bulk+cytoplasm+is+cell+cycle+regulated+in+early+vertebrate+embryos.">Actin behavior in bulk cytoplasm is cell cycle regulated in early vertebrate embryos.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 124, 2086-2095 (2011).</li><li>Chang, J. B., Ferrell, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitotic+trigger+waves+and+the+spatial+coordination+of+the+Xenopus+cell+cycle.">Mitotic trigger waves and the spatial coordination of the Xenopus cell cycle.</a> Nature. 500 (7464), 603-607 (2013).</li><li>Chang, J. B., Ferrell, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robustly+Cycling+Xenopus+laevis+Cell-Free+Extracts+in+Teflon+Chambers.">Robustly Cycling Xenopus laevis Cell-Free Extracts in Teflon Chambers.</a> Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. 2018 (8), (2018).</li><li>Chatterjee, S., Javier, M., Stochaj, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vivo+analysis+of+nuclear+protein+traffic+in+mammalian+cells.">In vivo analysis of nuclear protein traffic in mammalian cells.</a> Experimental Cell Research. 236 (1), 346-350 (1997).</li><li>Mochida, S., Hunt, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcineurin+is+required+to+release+Xenopus+egg+extracts+from+meiotic+M+phase.">Calcineurin is required to release Xenopus egg extracts from meiotic M phase.</a> Nature. 449 (7160), 336-340 (2007).</li><li>Heald, R., 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=Self-organization+of+microtubules+into+bipolar+spindles+around+artificial+chromosomes+in+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">Self-organization of microtubules into bipolar spindles around artificial chromosomes in Xenopus egg extracts.</a> Nature. 382 (6590), 420-425 (1996).</li><li>Helmke, K. J., Heald, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TPX2+levels+modulate+meiotic+spindle+size+and+architecture+in+Xenopus+egg+extracts.">TPX2 levels modulate meiotic spindle size and architecture in Xenopus egg extracts.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 206 (3), 385-393 (2014).</li><li>Sawin, K. E., Mitchison, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitotic+spindle+assembly+by+two+different+pathways+in+vitro.">Mitotic spindle assembly by two different pathways in vitro.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 112 (5), 925-940 (1991).</li><li>Belmont, L. D., Hyman, A. A., Sawin, K. E., Mitchison, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time+visualization+of+cell+cycle-dependent+changes+in+microtubule+dynamics+in+cytoplasmic+extracts.">Real-time visualization of cell cycle-dependent changes in microtubule dynamics in cytoplasmic extracts.</a> Cell. 62 (3), 579-589 (1990).</li><li>Krauss, S. W., Lee, G., Chasis, J. A., Mohandas, N., Heald, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two+protein+4.1+domains+essential+for+mitotic+spindle+and+aster+microtubule+dynamics+and+organization+in+vitro.">Two protein 4.1 domains essential for mitotic spindle and aster microtubule dynamics and organization in vitro.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 279 (26), 27591-27598 (2004).</li><li>Wang, S., Romano, F. B., Field, C. M., Mitchison, T. J., Rapoport, T. 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Xenopus laevis egg extracts have emerged as a powerful model system for imaging-based&#160;studies of various subcellular structures10,14,15,16,17,18,21,31,32,33,<sup ...

The cytoplasm constitutes the main volume of a cell and has a distinct organization. The ingredients of the eukaryotic cytoplasm can self-assemble into a wide range of spatial structures, such as microtubule asters and the Golgi apparatus, which in turn are dynamically arranged and turned over depending on the cell&#39;s identity and physiological state. Understanding the spatial organization of the cytoplasm and its link to cellular functions is thus important for understanding how the cell works. Xenopus laevis egg extracts have traditionally been used for bulk biochemical assays1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, but recent work establishes them as a powerful live imaging system for mechanistic studies of cytoplasmic structures and their cellular functions9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18. These undiluted extracts preserve many structures and functions of the cytoplasm, while allowing direct manipulations of cytoplasmic contents not achievable in conventional cell-based models19,20. This makes them ideal for characterizing cytoplasmic phenomena and dissecting their mechanistic underpinnings.
Existing methods for imaging extracts require chemical surface modifications, or fabrication of microfluidic devices. One coverslip-based method requires polyethylene glycol (PEG) passivation of glass coverslips21. A microemulsion-based method requires vapor deposition of trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane on glass surfaces22,23. Microfluidic-based systems allow precise control of the volume, geometry and composition of extract droplets, but require specialized microfabrication facilities11,12,24.
Here we introduce an alternative method for imaging egg extracts that is easy to implement and utilizes readily available, low-cost materials. This includes preparation of an imaging chamber with a slide and a coverslip coated with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) tape. The chamber can be used for imaging extracts with a variety of microscopy systems, including stereoscopes and upright and inverted microscopes. This method requires no chemical treatment of surfaces while achieving similar optical clarity obtained with existing glass-based methods discussed above. It is designed to image a layer of extracts with a uniform thickness across a 2D field, and can be easily extended to image a 3D volume of extracts. It is well suited for time-lapse imaging of collective cytoplasmic behavior over a large field of view.
We have used interphase-arrested egg extracts to demonstrate our imaging method. The extract preparation follows the protocol of Deming and Kornbluth19. Briefly, eggs naturally arrested in metaphase of meiosis II are crushed by a low speed spin. This spin releases the cytoplasm from meiotic arrest and allows the extract to proceed into interphase. Normally, cytochalasin B is added prior to the crushing spin to inhibit F-actin formation. However, it can be omitted if F-actin is desired. Cycloheximide is also added prior to the crushing spin to prevent the interphase extract from entering the next mitosis. The extracts are subsequently placed in the aforementioned imaging chambers and placed on a microscope. Finally, images are recorded over time at defined intervals by a camera connected to the microscope, producing time-lapse image series that capture the dynamical behavior of the extract in a 2D field.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>17 ml centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>337986</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>22x22 mm square #1 cover glass</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>284522</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aprotinin</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>10236624001</td>
			<td>Protease inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cycloheximide</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>01810</td>
			<td>Protein synthesis inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytochalasin B</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>C6762</td>
			<td>Actin polymerization inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Female Xenopus laevis frogs</td>
			<td>Nasco</td>
			<td>LM00535MX</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent HiLyte 488 labeled tubulin protein</td>
			<td>Cytoskeleton, Inc.</td>
			<td>TL488M-A</td>
			<td>For visualizing the microtubule cytoskeleton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent HiLyte 647 labeled tubulin protein</td>
			<td>Cytoskeleton, Inc.</td>
			<td>TL670M-A</td>
			<td>For visualizing the microtubule cytoskeleton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) optically clear tape</td>
			<td>CS Hyde company</td>
			<td>23-FEP-2-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass Pasteur pipette</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13-678-20C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>CG10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Imaging spacer</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>70327-8S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leupeptin</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>11017101001</td>
			<td>Protease inhibitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope slides</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-518-100B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mineral oil</td>
			<td>MilliporeSigma</td>
			<td>330760</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MitoTracker Red CMXRos</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>M7512</td>
			<td>For visualizing mitochondria</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)</td>
			<td>BioVendor</td>
			<td>RP1782725000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Roller applicator</td>
			<td>Amazon</td>
			<td>B07HMBJSP8</td>
			<td>For applying the FEP tape to the glass slides and coverslips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Single-edged razor blades</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-640</td>
			<td>For removing excessive FEP tape</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transfer pipette</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13-711-7M</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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 extracts can be used to study the self-organization of the cytoplasm during interphase. Figure 2A shows results from a successful experiment. We supplemented interphase-arrested extracts with demembranated Xenopus laevis sperm nuclei19 at a concentration of 27 nuclei/&#181;L and 0.38 &#181;M purified GST-GFP-NLS27,28,<sup class="x...

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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.

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 ...

This method is suitable for live imaging of cytoplasmic dynamics using frog egg extracts, enabling the study of spatial pattern information in the cytoplasm. Samples can be shaped into a layer with a uniform and adjustable thickness and imaged across a 2D field or 3D volume. This method is cost effective and easy to implement.Begin by applying a layer of FEP adhesive tape to a glass slide with a roller applicator. Cut off excessive tape over the edges with a clean razor blade. Next, prepare FEP tape coated cover slips in the same way.Then apply a double-sided sticky imaging spacer to the FEP tape coated side of the slide leaving the protective liner unpeeled. Transfer eggs to a 400 milliliter glass beaker and remove as much egg-laying buffer as possible by decanting. Then incubate the eggs in 100 milliliters of freshly prepared dejellying solution and gently swirl them.After about three minutes, pour off the solution and add 100 milliliters of fresh dejellying solution. Continue the incubation until the eggs are tightly packed, but avoid leaving eggs in the dejellying solution for more than a total of five minutes. After the incubation, remove the dejellying solution as much as possible and wash the eggs in 0.25x MMR buffer.Swirl the eggs, then pour off the buffer. Repeat a few times until a total of one liter of the buffer is used for the washes. Next, wash the eggs a few times with a total of 400 milliliters of egg lysis buffer, removing abnormal eggs between the washes.Then use a transfer pipette with a wide cut tip to transfer the eggs to a 17 milliliter round bottom centrifuge tube containing one milliliter of egg lysis buffer. Spin the tube in a clinical centrifuge at 400 g for 15 seconds to pack the eggs. Then remove as much of the egg lysis buffer as possible using a Pasteur pipette.Determine the approximate volume of the packed eggs. then add five micrograms per milliliter each of aprotinin, leupeptin and cytochalasin B and 50 micrograms per milliliter of cyclohexamide directly on top of the packed eggs. Crush the eggs by centrifusing the tube for 15 minutes at 12, 000 g and four degrees Celsius in a swinging bucket rotor.Next, attach an 18 gauge needle to a syringe. With the needle tip bevel facing up puncture the tube from the side at the bottom of the cytoplasmic layer and recover the extract by drawing slowly. Transfer the recovered cytoplasmic extract to a new micro centrifuge tube and keep it on ice.When ready to image, supplement the extract with the desired reagents and fluorescence imaging probes. Remove the top protective liner from the imaging spacer on the prepared slide and deposit approximately seven microliters of extract at the center of the well. Immediately apply the FEP tape coated cover slip with the FEP side facing the extract to seal the well and quickly proceed to imaging.Set the slide on an inverted or upright microscope with a motorized stage and a digital camera. Image the extracts at the desired spatial positions in time intervals in both bright field and fluorescence channels. A time-lapse experiment using xenopus laevis egg extracts to study the self-organization of the cytoplasm during interphase is shown here.After about 20 minutes of incubation at room temperature areas depleted of light scattering cytoplasmic components were visible in both bright field and mitochondria channels. By about 60 minutes at room temperature, a spatial pattern consisting of cell-like compartments should be well established with microtubules forming a hollow wreath-like structure and mitochondria clearly partitioned into each compartment. A comparison of extract performance in imaging chambers with and without FEP tapes on glass is shown here.In the chamber made with FEP taped glass the extract self-organized into normal cell-like patterns. In the chamber where the glass surfaces were not covered by the FEP tape, the extract showed abnormal bright field and microtubule patterns that became increasingly disrupted over time. No significant differences were observed in the nuclear import of the GST-mCherry-NLS protein.The important things to remember are to passivate the glass surfaces with FEP tape and to remove all bad eggs during extract preparation. With this system, we can easily control the thickness of the extract sample, paving the way for imaging cytoplasmic patterns in 3D, using light sheet microscopy.

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2.9K visualizações.  Stanford University School of Medicine. Este método é adequado para imagens vivas da dinâmica citoplasmática utilizando extratos de ovos de rã, possibilitando o estudo de informações de padrões espaciais no citoplasma. As amostras podem ser moldadas em uma camada com uma espessura uniforme e ajustável e fotografadas em um campo 2D ou volume 3D. Este método é rentável e fácil de implementar.Comece aplicando uma camada de fita adesiva FEP em uma lâmina de vidro com um aplicador de rolos. Corte a fita adesiva exce...