Visualizing the DNA Damage Response in Purkinje Cells Using Cerebellar Organotypic Cultures

Summary

Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) are particularly sensitive to deficiencies in the DNA damage response. A protocol is presented for the visual evaluation of the dynamics of PC response to DNA damage, which involves staining protein-bound poly(ADP-ribose) chains within cerebellar organotypic cultures.

Abstract

Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) exhibit a unique interplay of high metabolic rates, specific chromatin architecture, and extensive transcriptional activity, making them particularly vulnerable to DNA damage. This necessitates an efficient DNA damage response (DDR) to prevent cerebellar degeneration, often initiated by PC dysfunction or loss. A notable example is the genome instability syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), marked by progressive PC depletion and cerebellar deterioration. Investigating DDR mechanisms in PCs is vital for elucidating the pathways leading to their degeneration in such disorders. However, the complexity of isolating and cultivating PCs in vitro has long hindered research efforts. Murine cerebellar organotypic (slice) cultures offer a feasible alternative, closely mimicking the in vivo tissue environment. Yet, this model is constrained to DDR indicators amenable to microscopic imaging. We have refined the organotypic culture protocol, demonstrating that fluorescent imaging of protein-bound poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) chains, a rapid and early DDR indicator, effectively reveals DDR dynamics in PCs within these cultures, in response to genotoxic stress.

Introduction

The integrity of cellular DNA is constantly under threat from DNA damaging agents, predominantly metabolic by-products like reactive oxygen species, which inflict tens of thousands of DNA lesions per cell daily¹. The persistent upkeep of genome stability is essential for cellular homeostasis^2,3. The cornerstone of this maintenance is the DNA damage response (DDR) - an intricate, layered signaling network that initiates specific DNA repair pathways while carefully adjusting many other cellular processes^4,5. Deficits in the DDR ar....

Protocol

See Table of Materials for details of materials, equipment, and antibodies. Animal procedures were employed under the ethical guidelines of Tel Aviv University's Ethics Committee after approval. The procedure is carried out on 10-day old mouse pups, regardless of their sex. If needed, genotyping is performed on the previous day using a tail biopsy and standard methods. Solutions are sterile and stored at 4 °C unless indicated otherwise; see Table 1.

Discussion

General comments
The major advantage of the organotypic culture system is that it facilitates studies using the cerebellar cortex tissue, preserving its structural organization for several weeks in the culture dish setup. This system is useful for conducting in-depth morphological analyses of Purkinje cells (PCs), including detailed examinations of dendritic spines and ultrastructural features^{52,53,54.......}

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Reagent and Equipment
150 x 30 cm Petri dish	Corning Inc.	3261
35 x 10 mm Petri dish	Corning Inc.	3294
Acetone	Invitrogen	25030081
Acetone	Sigma-Aldrich	270725-1L
Adhesive microscope slides	Marienfeld	48187	76 x 26 x 1 mm
Blades for chopper	TED PELLA	Model TC752-1	Style Razor Blades
BME	GIBCO	41010-026 500ml.	No L-Glut
Cell culture inserts	Millipore	PICM0RG50
D-Glucose	Biological Indo.	02-015-1A
HBSS w/o phenol red	Sigma-Aldrich	H-1138-500L	No Ca+,No Mg+
HBSS with phenol red	Sartorius	02-015-1A
Horse serum	GIBCO	26050088	heat inactivated
Iris forceps	CellPath	GZX-0100-00A	130mm blunt serrated
Iris spatula	F.S.T	10092-12
L-Glutamine (200 mM)	Gibco	41010026
Methanol	Sigma-Aldrich	322412-1L
Methanol	Sigma-Aldrich	G5767
Microscope	Olympus
Mounting Medium without	GRIGENE. Ltd, Israel	K239320A
Paraquat	Sigma-Aldrich	856177-250MG	Paraquat dichloride (Methyl viologen)
PARG- Poly(ADP-Ribose) Glycohydrolase inhibitor	Tocris Bioscience, United Kingdom	PDD 00017273	light sensitive
Phosphate buffer	Biological Indo.	02-018-1A
Scissors, skin-tissue
Six-well plates	Corning incorporated	CLS3516
Spare Chopping Discs	TED PELLA	Model 10180-01
Tissue chopper	McIlwain	Model TC752	10180-220
Tweezers, pointed
Urinary cups
Antibodies
Alexa fluor 488 donkey anti Rabbit IgG	Invitrogen	A21206	1:500; secondary ab; Secondary dilution buffer;  Incubation for 2 h at room temperature
Anti glial fibrillary acidic protien	Milliphore	MAB3402	1:1500; primary ab; blocking; Host:mouse
Anti-calbindin-D-28K	Swant	CB300	1:2000; primary ab; blocking; host: rabbit
Anti-calbindin-D-28K	Swant	CB-38a	1:2000; primary ab; blocking
Anti-pan-ADP-ribose reagent	Milliphore	MABE1016	1:800; primary ab; blocking; incubation for 2 h at room temperature
DAPI (4',6-Diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride)	Cell signaling	4084	1:1000; secondary dilution buffer; incubation for 20 min at room temperature