Name: antibody staining in c. elegans using &quot;freeze-cracking&quot;
Uploaded: 2013-10-14T21:15:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using "Freeze-Cracking" at JoVE.com

Funding was provided by NSF CCLI#0633618 and Ohio University. Some strains were provided by the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center. Graduate student Reetobrata Basu appears in the video.

NOTE: Multiple protocol steps are presented with options for set-up and preparation depending on the specific conditions of the experiment. For these cases, alternative steps are presented as A, B, C, etc. The protocol with alternative steps is outlined in Figure 1.
1. Preparation of Polylysine Coated Slides
Three different types of slides may be used, depending upon the desired trade-off between ease of preparation, relative adhesion, and no...

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	<li>Harlow, E., Lane, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual. , (1988).</li><li>Mello, C., Fire, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=DNA+Transformation.">DNA Transformation.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 48, 451-482 (1995).</li><li>Boulin, T., Etchberger, J. F., Hobert, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reporter+gene+fusions.">Reporter gene fusions.</a> WormBook. , (2006).</li><li>Duerr, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunohistochemistry.">Immunohistochemistry.</a> WormBook. , (2006).</li><li>Finney, M., Ruvkun, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+unc-86+gene+product+couples+cell+lineage+and+cell+identity+in+C.+elegans.">The unc-86 gene product couples cell lineage and cell identity in C. elegans.</a> Cell. 63, 895-905 (1990).</li><li>Garriga, G., Desai, C., Horvitz, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+interactions+control+the+direction+of+outgrowth,+branching+and+fasciculation+of+the+HSN+axons+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Cell interactions control the direction of outgrowth, branching and fasciculation of the HSN axons of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Development. 117, 1071-1087 (1993).</li><li>Miller, D. M., Shakes, D. C., Epstein, H. F., Shakes, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunofluorescence+microscopy.">Immunofluorescence microscopy.</a> Caenorhabditis elegans: Modern Biological Analysis of an Organism. , 365-394 (1995).</li><li>Crittenden, S. L., Troemel, E. R., Evans, T. C., Kimble, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=GLP-1+is+localized+to+the+mitotic+region+of+the+C.+elegans+germ+line.">GLP-1 is localized to the mitotic region of the C. elegans germ line.</a> Development. 120, 2901-2911 (1994).</li><li>Strome, S., Wood, W. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunofluorescence+visualization+of+germ-line-specific+cytoplasmic+granules+in+embryos,+larvae,+and+adults+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Immunofluorescence visualization of germ-line-specific cytoplasmic granules in embryos, larvae, and adults of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 1558-1562 (1982).</li><li>Albertson, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formation+of+the+first+cleavage+spindle+in+nematode+embryos.">Formation of the first cleavage spindle in nematode embryos.</a> Dev. Biol. 101, 61-72 (1984).</li><li>Harlow, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Using Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual. , (1999).</li><li>Ahringer, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reverse+Genetics.">Reverse Genetics.</a> WormBook. , (2006).</li></ol>

The freeze-cracking protocol is one of several methods for antibody staining in C. elegans. It provides a relatively simple way to stain worms, but does require specific reagents and practice for optimum results. Critical steps (outlined in Figure 1) include: 1) slide preparation (see steps 1 and&#160;2) manual compression of the nematodes (see steps 2 and 3) rapid fixation (see step 3). First, to maximize adhesion of the nematodes to the slides, it is best to prepare slides with high molecular ...

To determine the cellular and subcellular localization of proteins, scientists have traditionally labeled tissues with antibodies selected to specifically recognize particular proteins1. In some model organisms such as C. elegans, antibody staining has often been replaced by molecular genetic techniques, which yield results more quickly. These include transforming organisms with constructs consisting of gene fusions between the promoter and coding regions of the gene of interest and green fluorescent protein. However, molecular techniques are subject to a number of artifacts, including problems with knowing the true promoter and changes in expression of constructs at high copy number (the usual techniques in C. elegans)2,3. Therefore, staining with antibodies remains a goal for many scientists studying protein function in vivo.
Staining tissues with antibodies can be difficult, since antibodies may only recognize their antigen in a particular conformation1. For example, antibodies may recognize only denatured or intact antigen fixed in a particular way and may not recognize the antigen in situ. The problem of antibody staining in nematodes is exacerbated by the fact that the cuticle of the nematode forms a relatively impermeable barrier, blocking access of antibodies to tissues.
There are several different methods used for antibody staining in C. elegans (reviewed in our previous work4). To stain intact &#39;worms,&#39; methods were developed to freeze and thaw in a relatively hard fixative (formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde); the freeze-thaw cycles help to crack the cuticle to allow rapid penetration of the fixative5. After fixation, the cuticle was permeabilized to allow penetration of the antibody; methods included treatment with reducing agents, collagenase, or both5-7. These treatments preserved morphology, but often reduced or destroyed antibody recognition. Alternative methods include dissection8 to allow antibody penetration.
&#34;Freeze-cracking&#34; is one way to gain access to the interior of the semi-intact worm to allow antibody staining9-10. Freeze-cracking can be performed with a variety of fixation conditions while avoiding collagenase and reduction treatments. The nematodes are placed between two adhesives slides, frozen, and then the slides are separated, leaving most of the nematode on the bottom slide and much of the cuticle on the top slide. The bottom slide can be placed in fixative and the entire slide with adhered nematodes is transferred through the antibody staining procedure. The method does present two major difficulties. First, it is difficult to apply the correct amount of pressure necessary to split the nematodes without seriously deforming them. Second, many of the worms will not stick to either slide, and will be lost in the fixative or rinses. However, with the proper slides and practice, the method will rapidly yield nematodes with reasonable morphology which can be used with a wide variety of fixatives and antibodies.
The method may be varied slightly, depending upon the goal of the experimenter. If staining of single nematodes is desired (e.g.&#160;to determine whether a single transformant has altered antibody staining), then slides with maximal adhesion (but higher background staining) can be used, such as laboratory-prepared slides with extra polylysine (see below). For formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde fixation, higher adhesion slides (laboratory-prepared polylysine slides) should be used, since nematodes adhere more poorly to polylysine after these fixations. If wild-type nematodes are being fixed with methanol and/or acetone, then slides with lower adhesion and lower background staining should be used (commercial or laboratory-prepared slides). If a variety of antibodies and fixatives are being used in the lab, a selection of slides may be prepared ahead of time and stored until needed.
After access to the nematode tissue has been gained, antibody staining procedures follow standard methods (with longer incubations characteristic of tissues rather than cells1,11).

<table border="1">
		<tbody>
		 <tr>
			<td>Name of Reagent/Material</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>poly-L-lysine slide (ESCO brand)</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>12-545-78</td>
			<td>Sigma brand slides also suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>poly-L-lysine hydrobromide</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P1524</td>
			<td>IMPORTANT: Brand and high molecular weight of polylysine critical</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>single frosted edge slides</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>48312-002</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>sodium azide</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S2002-25G</td>
			<td>TOXIC, wear gloves and mask while weighing out powder to make 10% stock. Wear gloves when pipeting stock solution</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>coplin staining jar</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>47751-792</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>5-slide mailer</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Science</td>
			<td>71549-01</td>
			<td>One of many different brands of small slide holder, suitable for staining</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>MK262159</td>
			<td>IMPORTANT: Regular formalin solutions (37% formaldehyde) are NOT suitable. Either 1) Dissolve crysatlaline paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffer and store in small aliquots frozen. Or 2) buy electron microscopy grade paraformaldehyde in aliquots. TOXIC -wear gloves; dispose of excess down sink with water.</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Glutaraldehyde solution, 25% in water</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>G 5882</td>
			<td>IMPORTANT: purchase electron microscopy grade glutaraldehyde in ampules; TOXIC -wear gloves; dispose of excess down sink with water.</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>EM-9410</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>ICN820451</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Donkey Serum, lyophilized</td>
			<td>Jackson Immunoresearch</td>
			<td>017-000-121</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Cy3 Donkey anti-Mouse IgG multi-labeling</td>
			<td>Jackson Immunoresearch</td>
			<td>715-165-150</td>
			<td>This company is recommended for high quality multi-label (affinity depleted) antibodies. Select appropriate dye and antigen (animal used to raise primary antibody). </td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>n-propyl gallate</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>ICN10274750</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>DAPI, 4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D 9542</td>
			<td>TOXIC. Wear gloves and dispense into small aliquots and feeze to minimize exposure</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Whatman #1 15 cm diameter filters</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>09805G</td>
			<td></td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Coverslip #1 1/2 rectangle 24 x 60 mm</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48393-252</td>
			<td>#1 1/2 thickness is optically best</td>
		 </tr>
		 <tr>
			<td>Microscope slide folder</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48429-092</td>
			<td>Other brands are suitable</td>
		 </tr>
		</tbody>
 </table>

antibody staining in c. elegans using &quot;freeze-cracking&quot;

To stain C. elegans with antibodies, the relatively impermeable cuticle must be bypassed by chemical or mechanical methods. "Freeze-cracking" is one method used to physically pull the cuticle from nematodes by compressing nematodes between two adherent slides, freezing them, and pulling the slides apart. Freeze-cracking provides a simple and rapid way to gain access to the tissues without chemical treatment and can be used with a variety of fixatives. However, it leads to the loss of many of the specimens and the required compression mechanically distorts the sample. Practice is required to maximize recovery of samples with good morphology. Freeze-cracking can be optimized for specific fixation conditions, recovery of samples, or low non-specific staining, but not for all parameters at once. For antibodies that require very hard fixation conditions and tolerate the chemical treatments needed to chemically permeabilize the cuticle, treatment of intact nematodes in solution may be preferred. If the antibody requires a lighter fix or if the optimum fixation conditions are unknown, freeze-cracking provides a very useful way to rapidly assay the antibody and can yield specific subcellular and cellular localization information for the antigen of interest.

When worms are properly compressed, cracked, and lightly fixed, virtually the entire worm can be accessible to antibody staining (see Figure 2). The location of the nuclei as indicated by DAPI staining indicates which parts of the worm are intact When the worms are subjected to a harder fixative, such as formaldehyde, the morphology of the worm may become distorted (as seen by the unnaturally wavy appearance of the muscles in Figures 3A-D). Another common problem is uneven fixation or pe...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using "Freeze-Cracking" at JoVE.com

Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using "Freeze-Cracking"

"Freeze-cracking," a method for exposing the inner tissues of the nematode C. elegans to antibodies for protein localization, is demonstrated.

Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using &quot;Freeze-Cracking&quot;

To stain C.  elegans with antibodies, the relatively impermeable cuticle must be  bypassed by chemical or mechanical methods.  "Freeze-cracking" is one ...

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