Name: an enhanced green fluorescence protein-based assay for studying neurite outgrowth in primary neurons
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein-based Assay for Studying Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Neurons at JoVE.com

This work was supported by funds from the Research Grants Council Hong Kong, Health and Medical Research Fund (Hong Kong), CUHK direct grant scheme, the United College endowment fund and the TUYF Charitable Trust.

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the animal experimentation ethics committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
1. Preparation of Coverslips
<ol>
	<li>Place a sterile 18 mm circular coverslip into each well of a 12-well tissue culture plate.</li>
	<li>Coat the coverslip with 5 &#181;g/mL poly-D-lysine solution in a humidified 37 &#176;C incubator for at least 1 h.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the poly-D-lysine solution from the tissue culture plate and rins...

<ol>
	<li>Kaplan, A., Bueno, M., Hua, L., Fournier, A. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maximizing+functional+axon+repair+in+the+injured+central+nervous+system:+Lessons+from+neuronal+development.">Maximizing functional axon repair in the injured central nervous system: Lessons from neuronal development.</a> Developmental Dynamics. 247 (1), 18-23 (2018).</li><li>Harrill, J. A., Mundy, 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=Quantitative+assessment+of+neurite+outgrowth+in+PC12+cells.">Quantitative assessment of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 758, 331-348 (2011).</li><li>Yeyeodu, S. T., Witherspoon, S. M., Gilyazova, N., Ibeanu, G. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+rapid,+inexpensive+high+throughput+screen+method+for+neurite+outgrowth.">A rapid, inexpensive high throughput screen method for neurite outgrowth.</a> Current Chemical Genomics. 4, 74-83 (2010).</li><li>Ben-David, U., 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=Genetic+and+transcriptional+evolution+alters+cancer+cell+line+drug+response.">Genetic and transcriptional evolution alters cancer cell line drug response.</a> Nature. 560 (7718), 325-330 (2018).</li><li>Edwards, M. A., Loxley, R. A., Williams, A. J., Connor, M., Phillips, J. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lack+of+functional+expression+of+NMDA+receptors+in+PC12+cells.">Lack of functional expression of NMDA receptors in PC12 cells.</a> Neurotoxicology. 28 (4), 876-885 (2007).</li><li>LePage, K. T., Dickey, R. W., Gerwick, W. H., Jester, E. L., Murray, T. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=On+the+use+of+neuro-2a+neuroblastoma+cells+versus+intact+neurons+in+primary+culture+for+neurotoxicity+studies.">On the use of neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells versus intact neurons in primary culture for neurotoxicity studies.</a> Critical Reviews in Neurobiology. 17 (1), 27-50 (2005).</li><li>Karra, D., Dahm, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transfection+techniques+for+neuronal+cells.">Transfection techniques for neuronal cells.</a> Journal of Neuroscience. 30 (18), 6171-6177 (2010).</li><li>Cheung, H. N., 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=FE65+interacts+with+ADP-ribosylation+factor+6+to+promote+neurite+outgrowth.">FE65 interacts with ADP-ribosylation factor 6 to promote neurite outgrowth.</a> The FASEB Journal. 28 (1), 337-349 (2014).</li><li>Li, W., 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=Neuronal+adaptor+FE65+stimulates+Rac1-mediated+neurite+outgrowth+by+recruiting+and+activating+ELMO1.">Neuronal adaptor FE65 stimulates Rac1-mediated neurite outgrowth by recruiting and activating ELMO1.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 293 (20), 7674-7688 (2018).</li><li>Schneider, C. A., Rasband, W. S., Eliceiri, K. 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D., Lin, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cytochalasin+D+inhibits+actin+polymerization+and+induces+depolymerization+of+actin+filaments+formed+during+platelet+shape+change.">Cytochalasin D inhibits actin polymerization and induces depolymerization of actin filaments formed during platelet shape change.</a> Nature. 293 (5830), 302-305 (1981).</li><li>Calabrese, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhancing+and+regulating+neurite+outgrowth.">Enhancing and regulating neurite outgrowth.</a> Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 38 (4), 391-418 (2008).</li><li>Lau, K. 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=Dexras1+Interacts+with+FE65+to+Regulate+FE65-Amyloid+Precursor+Protein-dependent+Transcription.">Dexras1 Interacts with FE65 to Regulate FE65-Amyloid Precursor Protein-dependent Transcription.</a> Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283 (50), 34728-34737 (2008).</li><li>Cui, X., 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=Niacin+treatment+of+stroke+increases+synaptic+plasticity+and+axon+growth+in+rats.">Niacin treatment of stroke increases synaptic plasticity and axon growth in rats.</a> Stroke. 41 (9), 2044-2049 (2010).</li><li>Khodosevich, K., Monyer, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Signaling+involved+in+neurite+outgrowth+of+postnatally+born+subventricular+zone+neurons+in+vitro.">Signaling involved in neurite outgrowth of postnatally born subventricular zone neurons in vitro.</a> BMC Neuroscience. 11, 18 (2010).</li><li>Tang, 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=Resveratrol+Enhances+Neurite+Outgrowth+and+Synaptogenesis+Via+Sonic+Hedgehog+Signaling+Following+Oxygen-Glucose+Deprivation/Reoxygenation+Injury.">Resveratrol Enhances Neurite Outgrowth and Synaptogenesis Via Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Following Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation Injury.</a> Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry: International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. 43 (2), 852-869 (2017).</li><li>He, W., Liu, Y., Tian, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rosuvastatin+Improves+Neurite+Outgrowth+of+Cortical+Neurons+against+Oxygen-Glucose+Deprivation+via+Notch1-mediated+Mitochondrial+Biogenesis+and+Functional+Improvement.">Rosuvastatin Improves Neurite Outgrowth of Cortical Neurons against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation via Notch1-mediated Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Functional Improvement.</a> Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 12, 6 (2018).</li><li>Tesarova, P., 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=Receptor+for+advanced+glycation+end+products+(RAGE)--soluble+form+(sRAGE)+and+gene+polymorphisms+in+patients+with+breast+cancer.">Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)--soluble form (sRAGE) and gene polymorphisms in patients with breast cancer.</a> Cancer Investigation. 25 (8), 720-725 (2007).</li><li>Park, S. 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As stated before, PC12 and its subclones are widely employed for studying neurite extension because they have excellent transfection efficiency2,3. In contrast, primary neurons have a low transfection rate, which is a major obstacle for studying neurite outgrowth regulators by transfection7. Here, we describe a convenient protocol for quantifying neurite outgrowth in primary neurons. Despite the low overall transfection efficiency, more th...

Neurites, including both axons and dendrites, are the projections from neurons involved in the establishment of the neural networks. The dynamic outgrowth of neurites is essential for neurodevelopment. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms underneath remain unclear. In particular, neurite damage is often observed in various neurodegenerative diseases and after brain injuries1. Therefore, investigation of the roles of putative molecules in various neurite outgrowth regulatory pathways would improve our understanding of the process. Moreover, it may reveal novel therapeutic targets for various neurological disorders. Neuronal cell lines are valuable models for studying neuronal processes including neurite outgrowth as they are easy to manipulate and transfect2,3. However, genetic drift has been reported to occur in some commonly used cell lines, which could lead to variations in their physiological responses4. Moreover, differential protein expression has been shown between neuronal cell lines and primary neurons. For instance, PC12, a neuronal cell line derived from rat adrenal gland that is widely used for studying neurite outgrowth2,3, does not express NMDA receptors5. Furthermore, it has been proposed that the reduced responsiveness of the mouse neuroblastoma line neuro-2a to neurotoxins in comparison to primary neurons is due to the lack of expression of certain membrane receptors and ion channels6. Therefore, primary neurons are a more desirable and representative model for the investigation of neurite outgrowth. However, the use of primary neurons is hindered by their low transfection efficiency7.
Here, we describe a method that involves the co-transfection of the protein of interest (POI) and EGFP to primary rat cortical neurons. The EGFP acts as a morphological marker for the identification of successfully transfected neurons and permits the measurement of neurites. We validated this method by using compounds/molecules that have been reported to modulate neurite outgrowth. Moreover, FE65, a neuronal adaptor protein that has been shown to stimulate neurite outgrowth, was used to illustrate this approach8,9. This protocol involves (1) the isolation of primary cortical neurons from embryonic day 18 (E18) rat embryos, (2) the co-transfection of neurons with EGFP and the POI (FE65 in this study) and (3) the imaging and analysis of the neurons by using the image processing software ImageJ with the NeuronJ plugin10,11.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>#5 tweezers</td>
			<td>Regine</td>
			<td>5-COB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>18 mm Circle Cover Slips</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>CB00180RA</td>
			<td>Sterilize before use.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B27 Supplement</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytochalasin D</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>PHZ1063</td>
			<td>Dissolved in DMSO.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-(+)-Glucose</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G8270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethyl Sulfoxide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D2650</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Scissors, 10 cm</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>14393</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting Scissors, 12.5 cm</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>15922</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EndoFree Plasmid Maxi Kit</td>
			<td>QIAGEN</td>
			<td>12362</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence Mounting Medium</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>S302380</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipofectamine 2000 Transfection Reagent</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11668019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal Medium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>21103049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NGF 2.5S Native Mouse Protein</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>13257019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nugent Utility Forceps, 10mm, Straight Tip</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>504489</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pEGFP-C1</td>
			<td>Clontech</td>
			<td>#6084-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pCI FE65</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Please see references 8 and 15</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS Tablets</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>18912014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly-D-lysine hydrobromide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P7280</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spatula</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA (0.05%), phenol red</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25300062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan Blue Solution, 0.4%</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15250061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an enhanced green fluorescence protein-based assay for studying neurite outgrowth in primary neurons

Neurite outgrowth is a fundamental event in the formation of the neural circuits during nervous system development. Severe neurite damage and synaptic dysfunction occur in various neurodegenerative diseases and age-related degeneration. Investigation of the mechanisms that regulate neurite outgrowth would not only shed valuable light on brain developmental processes but also on such neurological disorders. Due to the low transfection efficiency, it is currently challenging to study the effect of a specific protein on neurite outgrowth in primary mammalian neurons. Here, we describe a simple method for the investigation of neurite outgrowth by the co-transfection of primary rat cortical neurons with EGFP and a protein of interest (POI). This method allows the identification of POI transfected neurons through the EGFP signal, and thus the effect of the POI on neurite outgrowth can be determined precisely. This EGFP-based assay provides a convenient approach for the investigation of pathways regulating neurite outgrowth.

To test this methodology, we used Cyto D and nerve growth factor NGF, which have been shown to inhibit and stimulate neurite outgrowth respectively14,15,16. The neurite length of neurons transfected with EGFP were measured after treatment with Cyto D or NGF. The transfection efficiency of EGFP to the neurons was 2.7% (1,068 neurons counted). As shown in Figure 1<stro...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein-based Assay for Studying Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Neurons at JoVE.com

An Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein-based Assay for Studying Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Neurons

In this report, we describe a simple protocol for studying neurite outgrowth in embryonic rat cortical neurons by co-transfecting with EGFP and the protein of interest.

Neurite outgrowth is a fundamental event in the formation of the neural circuits during nervous system development. Severe neurite damage and synaptic ...

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A Multi-Omics Extraction Method for the In-Depth Analysis of Synchronized Cultures of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

A Multi-Omics Extraction Method for the In-Depth Analysis of Synchronized Cultures of the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Microalgae have been the focus of research for their applications in the production of high value compounds, food and fuel. Moreover, they are valuable ...