Name: isolation of giant lampbrush chromosomes from living oocytes of frogs and salamanders
Uploaded: 2016-12-05T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Giant Lampbrush Chromosomes from Living Oocytes of Frogs and Salamanders at JoVE.com

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.

General information about frogs and salamanders, as well as sources of animals, can be found at the following websites: Xenbase (http://www.xenbase.org) and Sal-Site (http://www.ambystoma.org). This protocol follows the animal care guidelines of the Department of Embryology of the Carnegie Institution for Science.
1. Solutions
<ol>
	<li>Make 10 L &#34;frog water&#34;: Add 10 mL of 1 M CaCl2 and 10 mL of 1 M NaHCO3 to 10 L deionized or dechlorinated H2O with s...

<ol>
	<li>Purkinje, 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=.">.</a> Symbolae ad ovi avium historiam ante incubationem. , (1830).</li><li>R&#252;ckert, 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=Zur+Entwickelungsgeschichte+des+Ovarialeies+bei+Selachiern.">Zur Entwickelungsgeschichte des Ovarialeies bei Selachiern.</a> Anat. Anz. 7, 107-158 (1892).</li><li>Callan, H. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Lampbrush Chromosomes. 36, (1986).</li><li>Gall, J. G., Callan, H. G., Wu, Z., Murphy, C., Kay, B. K., Peng, H. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lampbrush+chromosomes.">Lampbrush chromosomes.</a> Xenopus laevis: Practical Uses in Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 36 Methods in Cell Biology , 149-166 (1991).</li><li>Gall, J. 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. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lariat+intronic+RNAs+in+the+cytoplasm+of+Xenopus+tropicalis+oocytes.">Lariat intronic RNAs in the cytoplasm of Xenopus tropicalis oocytes.</a> RNA. 20, 1476-1487 (2014).</li><li>Duryee, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+nuclei+and+non-mitotic+chromosome+pairs+from+frog+eggs.">Isolation of nuclei and non-mitotic chromosome pairs from frog eggs.</a> Arch. Exp. Zellforsch. 19, 171-176 (1937).</li></ol>

The first observations of &#34;living&#34; LBCs from hand-isolated GVs of frogs and salamanders were made nearly 80 years ago by the American biologist William Duryee,19 before the introduction of phase contrast and DIC microscopy, before fluorescent immunostaining, and before FISH. The advantages of LBCs for investigating details of chromosome structure and transcription at the individual gene level required development of techniques to attach the LBCs to glass slides, to fix them in a lifelike manner, and to...

Most vertebrates, with the notable exception of marsupials and placental mammals, produce large yolky eggs. Despite their sometimes enormous size, these eggs are single cells that reach their final dimension while still in the ovary of the female. Ovarian eggs are called oocytes and each typically contains a single giant nucleus, known since the early 19th century as the germinal vesicle or simply GV.1 Oocytes of the common laboratory frogs, Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis, reach a maximal diameter of 1.2 mm and 0.8 mm respectively (Figure 1). The GVs from mature oocytes of these two frogs are 0.3 - 0.4 mm in diameter (Figures 2, 3). Salamanders typically have even larger oocytes and GVs. Fully mature oocytes of the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, are more than 2 mm in diameter and the GV is about 0.5 mm. Thus, these nuclei are readily visible to the naked eye and can be manipulated in many ways that are impossible with the nuclei of typical somatic cells.
Equally remarkable is the gigantic size of the chromosomes within the GV, a fact recognized already at the end of the 19th century. Individual chromosomes of Ambystoma and other salamanders can be up to 1 mm in length (Figures 4, 5). Those of Xenopus are considerable smaller, although with lengths up to 100 &#181;m or more, they dwarf the typical somatic chromosomes of most organisms. An important feature of oocyte chromosomes is their extraordinary transcriptional activity, which leads to one of their most characteristic morphological features &#8212; hundreds of paired lateral loops (Figure 5). Each loop consists of one or a few transcription units that actively synthesize RNA. The loops give oocyte chromosomes a fuzzy appearance, which led to the name &#34;lampbrush&#34; chromosome after their superficial resemblance to the brushes used in earlier times to clean kerosene lamp chimneys.2
The focus of this paper is on the use of isolated GVs to study LBCs and nuclear organelles (nucleoli, histone locus bodies, and speckles). Two rather different techniques will be described. In the first, more common technique, GVs are isolated in a saline solution using jeweler&#39;s forceps, briefly rinsed to remove adherent yolk, and the nuclear envelope is removed, again with jeweler&#39;s forceps. The gelatinous contents, containing the LBCs and nuclear organelles, are allowed to settle onto a glass microscope slide or coverslip. Such preparations can be examined directly by phase contrast or DIC microscopy. Alternatively, preparations may be centrifuged to attach the LBCs and organelles to the slide or coverslip. Such preparations can then be processed for detailed molecular analysis of nucleic acids and proteins, primarily by immunofluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).3-7
A second technique involves isolation of the GV in mineral oil.8 Oil-isolated GVs remain transcriptionally active for many hours and are potentially useful for studies where one wants the nuclear contents to be as lifelike as possible.9,10 Because the refractive index of the nuclear &#34;sap&#34; is close to that of the LBCs and other nuclear organelles (Figure 3), microscopical techniques can be a challenge with oil-isolated GVs.
Finally, because of their size and ease of manipulation, GVs are ideal material for studies on the nuclear envelope. The nuclear pore complex was first described from electron microscopic studies on amphibian GV envelopes11 and more recent superresolution observations have used the same material.12,13

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1562">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:405px;">Paraformaldehyde (reagent grade, crystalline)</td>
			<td style="width:301px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:213px;">P6148-500G</td>
			<td style="width:643px;">Despite warnings in many protocols, a concentrated solution can be stored indefinitely at room temperature</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulfonate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A5040-100G</td>
			<td>Sometimes referred to as MS-222</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethicon RB-1 1/2 circle taper point 3-0 sutures</td>
			<td>VWR&#160;</td>
			<td>95057-000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Paraplast (paraffin wax)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3558-1KG</td>
			<td style="width:643px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">p-Phenylenediamine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P6001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gelatin</td>
			<td>Grocery Store</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Commercial Knox gelatin works fine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ProLong Gold antifade mountant</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>P10144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Gold Seal cover glass&#160; 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 height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">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 height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Paraffin oil (light)&#160;</td>
			<td>EMD Chemicals</td>
			<td>PX0047-1</td>
			<td>For isolating GVs in oil</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Adhesive in situ PCR and hybridization chambers (25 &#181;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 height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">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 height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">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

We describe methods for studying the giant transcriptionally active lampbrush chromosomes (LBCs) found in the oocyte, or unlaid egg, of frogs and salamanders. Individual LBCs can be up to 1 mm in length and they reside in a gigantic nucleus, itself up to 0.5 mm in diameter. The large size of the chromosomes permits unparalleled observations of active genes by light optical microscopy, but at the same time special techniques are required for isolating the nucleus, removing the nuclear envelope, and spreading the chromosomes on a microscope slide. The oocyte nucleus, also called the germinal vesicle (GV), is isolated in a medium that allows partial gelling of the nuclear actin and preserves the delicate structure of the LBCs. This step is carried out manually under a dissecting microscope using jeweler&#39;s forceps. Next, the nuclear envelope is removed, again manually with jeweler&#39;s forceps. The nuclear contents are quickly transferred to a medium that disperses the actin gel and allows the undamaged LBCs to settle onto a microscope slide. At this point the LBCs and other nuclear organelles can be viewed by phase contrast or differential interference contrast microscopy, although finer details are obscured by Brownian motion. For high resolution microscopical observation or molecular analysis, the whole preparation is centrifuged to attach the delicate LBCs firmly to the slide. A brief fixation in paraformaldehyde is then followed by immunofluorescent staining or in situ hybridization. LBCs are in a transcriptionally active state and their enormous size permits molecular analysis at the individual gene level using confocal or super-resolution microscopy.

To examine giant lampbrush chromosomes one begins by isolating oocytes from a frog or salamander. Figure 1 shows a group of mature oocytes in a buffered saline solution after removal from the ovary of the frog, Xenopus. Such oocytes remain in good condition for days at room temperature. The nucleus (or germinal vesicle) is then removed from an oocyte with jeweler&#39;s forceps, either in a saline solution (Figure 2) or in oil (Figure 3</s...

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

We present simple techniques for isolating giant transcriptionally active lampbrush chromosomes from living oocytes of frogs and salamanders. We describe how to observe these chromosomes &#34;alive&#34; by phase contrast or differential interference contrast, and how to fix them for fluorescent in situ hybridization or immunofluorescent staining.

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

Research

Education

JoVE Journal

JoVE Core

Molecular Biology

Genetics

Unit 1

DNA and Chromosome Structure

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

A Robotic Platform for High-throughput Protoplast Isolation and Transformation

Over the last decade there has been a resurgence in the use of plant protoplasts that range from model species to crop species, for analysis of signal ...

Formaldehyde-assisted Isolation of Regulatory Elements to Measure Chromatin Accessibility in Mammalian Cells

Appropriate gene expression in response to extracellular cues, that is, tissue- and lineage-specific gene transcription, critically depends on highly ...

Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I

Embryonic aneuploidy is the major genetic cause of infertility in humans. Most of these events originate during female meiosis, and albeit positively ...

Isolation, Characterization and MicroRNA-based Genetic Modification of Human Dental Follicle Stem Cells

To date, several stem cell types at different developmental stages are in the focus for the treatment of degenerative diseases. Yet, certain aspects, such ...

Generation of Cancer Cell Clones to Visualize Telomeric Repeat-containing RNA TERRA Expressed from a Single Telomere in Living Cells

Telomeres are transcribed, giving rise to telomeric repeat-containing long noncoding RNAs (TERRA), which have been proposed to play important roles in ...

Isolation of Papillary and Reticular Fibroblasts from Human Skin by Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting

Fibroblasts are a highly heterogeneous cell population implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In human skin dermis, fibroblasts have ...

Sequencing of mRNA from Whole Blood using Nanopore Sequencing

Sequencing in remote locations and resource-poor settings presents unique challenges. Nanopore sequencing can be successfully used under such conditions, ...

Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (SM-FISH) to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes

Use of Single Molecule Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization SM-FISH to Quantify and Localize mRNAs in Murine Oocytes

Current methods routinely used to quantify mRNA in oocytes and embryos include digital reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), ...

High-Throughput DNA Plasmid Multiplexing and Transfection Using Acoustic Nanodispensing Technology

Cell transfection, indispensable for many biological studies, requires controlling many parameters for an accurate and successful achievement. Most often ...