Name: imaging intranuclear actin rods in live heat stressed drosophila embryos
Uploaded: 2020-05-15T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos at JoVE.com

The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of Liuliu Zheng and Zenghui Xue, who helped pioneer this technique in the Sokac lab, as well as Hasan Seede who helped with the analysis. The work for this study is funded by a grant from NIH (R01 GM115111).

1. Prepare embryo collection cups and apple juice agar plates
<ol>
	<li>Five days prior to the injection experiment, construct28 or procure at least two small&#160;embryo collection cups. Make fresh 60 mm apple juice agar plates to be used with small collection cups28. Store plates in plastic boxes covered with damp paper towels at 4 &#176;C. 
	NOTE: Small embryo collection cups, populated with fly numbers as described in step 1.3, will provide sufficient embryo numb...

<ol>
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L., 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=ADF/cofilin+mediates+actin+cytoskeletal+alterations+in+LLC-PK+cells+during+ATP+depletion.">ADF/cofilin mediates actin cytoskeletal alterations in LLC-PK cells during ATP depletion.</a> American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology. 284 (4), 852-862 (2003).</li><li>Vandebrouck, 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=In+vitro+analysis+of+rod+composition+and+actin+dynamics+in+inherited+myopathies.">In vitro analysis of rod composition and actin dynamics in inherited myopathies.</a> Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. 69 (5), 429-441 (2010).</li><li>Minamide, L. S., Striegl, A. M., Boyle, J. A., Meberg, P. J., Bamburg, J. 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W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Actin+dynamics+and+cofilin-actin+rods+in+alzheimer+disease.">Actin dynamics and cofilin-actin rods in alzheimer disease.</a> Cytoskeleton. 73 (9), 477-497 (2016).</li><li>Bernstein, B. W., Chen, H., Boyle, J. A., Bamburg, J. R. <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+actin-ADF/cofilin+rods+transiently+retards+decline+of+mitochondrial+potential+and+ATP+in+stressed+neurons.">Formation of actin-ADF/cofilin rods transiently retards decline of mitochondrial potential and ATP in stressed neurons.</a> AJP: Cell Physiology. 291 (5), 828-839 (2006).</li><li>Munsie, L. N., Desmond, C. 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L., Peters, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intranuclear+rods+and+sheets+in+rat+cochlear+nucleus.">Intranuclear rods and sheets in rat cochlear nucleus.</a> Journal of Neurocytology. 1 (2), 109-127 (1972).</li><li>Nishida, E., 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=Cofilin+is+a+component+of+intranuclear+and+cytoplasmic+actin+rods+induced+in+cultured+cells.">Cofilin is a component of intranuclear and cytoplasmic actin rods induced in cultured cells.</a> Cell Biology. 84 (8), 5262-5266 (1987).</li><li>Ono, S., Abe, H., Nagaoka, R., Obinata, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Colocalization+of+ADF+and+cofilin+in+intranuclear+actin+rods+of+cultured+muscle+cells.">Colocalization of ADF and cofilin in intranuclear actin rods of cultured muscle cells.</a> Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility. 14 (2), 195-204 (1993).</li><li>Xue, Z., Sokac, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Back-to-back+mechanisms+drive+actomyosin+ring+closure+during+Drosophila+embryo+cleavage.">Back-to-back mechanisms drive actomyosin ring closure during Drosophila embryo cleavage.</a> The Journal of Cell Biology. 215 (3), 335-344 (2016).</li><li>Cao, J., Albertson, R., Riggs, B., Field, C. M., Sullivan, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nuf,+a+Rab11+effector,+maintains+cytokinetic+furrow+integrity+by+promoting+local+actin+polymerization.">Nuf, a Rab11 effector, maintains cytokinetic furrow integrity by promoting local actin polymerization.</a> Journal of Cell Biology. 182 (2), 301-313 (2008).</li><li>Spracklen, A. J., Fagan, T. N., Lovander, K. E., Tootle, T. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pros+and+cons+of+common+actin+labeling+tools+for+visualizing+actin+dynamics+during+Drosophila+oogenesis.">The pros and cons of common actin labeling tools for visualizing actin dynamics during Drosophila oogenesis.</a> Developmental Biology. 393 (2), 209-226 (2014).</li><li>Chen, Q., Nag, S., Pollard, T. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Formins+filter+modified+actin+subunits+during+processive+elongation.">Formins filter modified actin subunits during processive elongation.</a> Journal of Structural Biology. 177 (1), 32-39 (2012).</li><li>Iordanou, E., Chandran, R. R., Blackstone, N., Jiang, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RNAi+interference+by+dsRNA+injection+into+Drosophila+embryos.">RNAi interference by dsRNA injection into Drosophila embryos.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (50), 2477 (2011).</li><li>Juarez, M. T., Patterson, R. A., Li, W., McGinnis, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microinjection+wound+assay+and+in+vivo+localization+of+epidermal+wound+response+reporters+in+Drosophila+embryos.">Microinjection wound assay and in vivo localization of epidermal wound response reporters in Drosophila embryos.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. 81, 50750 (2013).</li><li>Carreira-Rosario, 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=Recombineering+homologous+recombination+constructs+in+Drosophila.">Recombineering homologous recombination constructs in Drosophila.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (77), 50346 (2013).</li><li>Brust-Mascher, I., Scholey, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microinjection+techniques+for+studying+mitosis+in+the+Drosophila+melanogaster+syncytial+embryo.">Microinjection techniques for studying mitosis in the Drosophila melanogaster syncytial embryo.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (31), 1382 (2009).</li><li>Catrina, I. E., Bayer, L. V., Omar, O. S., Bratu, D. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualizing+and+tracking+endogenous+mRNAs+in+live+Drosophila+melanogaster+egg+chambers.">Visualizing and tracking endogenous mRNAs in live Drosophila melanogaster egg chambers.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (148), 58545 (2019).</li><li>Wessel, A. D., Gumalla, M., Grosshans, J., Schmidt, C. 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(49), 2503 (2011).</li><li>Oesterle, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Pipette Cookbook 2018: P-97 and P-1000 Micropipette Pullers. , (2018).</li><li>Bownes, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+photographic+study+of+development+in+the+living+embryo+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.">A photographic study of development in the living embryo of Drosophila melanogaster.</a> Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology. 33 (3), 789-801 (1975).</li><li>Powsner, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+temperature+on+the+durations+of+the+developmental+stages+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.">The effects of temperature on the durations of the developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster.</a> Physiological Zoology. 8 (4), 474-520 (1935).</li><li>Hunter, M. 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The significance of this method is that it utilizes the well-established protocol of microinjection in Drosophila embryos21,22,23,24,25,26,27 to enable new research regarding the ASR and accompanying actin rod assembly. A major advantage of injecting G-actinRed into live ...

This protocol describes how to inject G-actinRed to visualize the assembly of intranuclear actin rods in heat-stressed embryos that are undergoing an inducible Actin Stress Response (ASR)1. We developed this protocol to aid studies of the ASR, which in embryos leads to disrupted morphogenesis and reduced viability, and in adult human cell types is associated with pathologies including renal failure2, muscle myopathies3, and Alzheimer&#8217;s and Huntington&#8217;s Disease4,5,6,7,8. This ASR is induced by numerous cellular stresses, including heat shock9,10,11, oxidative stress4,6, reduced ATP synthesis12, and abnormal Huntingtin or &#946;-amyloid oligomerization4,5,6,7,9,13,14,15,16. A hallmark of the ASR is the assembly of aberrant actin rods in either the cytoplasm or nucleus of affected cells, which is driven by stress-induced hyperactivation of an actin interacting protein, Cofilin1,5,6,10. Unfortunately, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the ASR. For example, the function of the actin rods is not known. We do not understand why rods form in the cytoplasm of some cell types, but the nucleus of others. Nor is it clear whether the ASR is protective or maladaptive for cells or embryos undergoing stress. Finally, we still do not know the detailed mechanisms underlying Cofilin hyperactivation or actin rod assembly. Thus, this protocol provides a rapid and versatile assay to probe the ASR by visualizing actin rod formation and dynamics in the highly tractable experimental system of the living fruit fly embryo.
The protocol to microinject G-actinRed into living Drosophila embryos was initially developed to study the dynamics of normal cytoplasmic actin structures17 during tissue building events. In those studies, we found that G-actinRed injection did not adversely affect early developmental processes in the embryo, including cytokinesis or gastrulation17,18. We then modified the protocol, adapting the embryo handling and G-actinRed injection to allow imaging of actin rods in heat stressed embryos undergoing the ASR1. Other methods besides G-actinRed injection can be used to visualize actin in embryos. These methods rely on expressing fluorescent proteins (FPs) tagged to actin or to domains of actin binding proteins, such as Utrophin-mCherry, Lifeact, F-tractin-GFP, and Moesin-GFP (reviewed in19). However, using these FP probes requires caution because they can stabilize or disrupt some actin structures, do not equally label all actin structures20, and in the case of actin-GFP, are highly overexpressed &#8211; problematic for the analysis of rod assembly which is not only stress dependent but also actin concentration dependent1. Thus, G-actinRed is the preferred probe for rod studies in fly embryos, and the large size of the embryo allows its easy injection.
The workflow of this protocol is similar to other well-established microinjection techniques that have been used for injecting proteins, nucleic acids, drugs, and fluorescent indicators into Drosophila embryos21,22,23,24,25,26,27. However, following the microinjection of G-actinRed here, embryos are exposed to mild heat stress to induce the ASR and intranuclear actin rod assembly. For labs with access to flies and an injection rig, this method should be readily implementable and adaptable for specific lines of study in regard to the ASR, including its induction by different stresses or modulation in distinct genetic backgrounds.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:837px;" width="838">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">A23835G</td>
			<td style="width:299px;">Component of G buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Apple juice, Mott&#39;s, 64 fl oz</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Mott&#39;s</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">014800000344</td>
			<td>Component of apple juice plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Bacto Agar</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">214010</td>
			<td>Component of apple juice plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Bleach, PureBright Germicidal, 6.0% sodium hypochlorite</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">KIK International</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">059647210020</td>
			<td>For dechorionating embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Calcium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">C1016500G</td>
			<td>Component of G buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Cell strainer, 70 &#956;m</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Falcon</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">352350</td>
			<td>For collecting dechorionated embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Confocal microscope, LSM 880 34-channel with Airyscan</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">0000001994956</td>
			<td>For imaging intranuclear actin rods</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Desiccant</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Drierite</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">24001</td>
			<td>For desiccating embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Dissecting microscope, Stemi 508 Stereoscope with 8:1 zoom</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">4350649000000</td>
			<td>For arranging embryos on agar wedge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Dissecting needle, 5 in</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">08965A</td>
			<td>For arranging embryos on agar wedge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Dithiothreitol (DTT)</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">BP1725</td>
			<td>Component of G buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Double-sided Tape, Scotch Permanent, 0.5 in x 250 in</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">3M</td>
			<td>021200010323</td>
			<td>For making embryo glue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Embryo collection cage</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Genessee Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">59100</td>
			<td>For housing adult flies and collecting embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Fine tip tweezers, Dumont Tweezer, Style 5</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">72701D</td>
			<td>For arranging embryos on agar wedge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Glass capillaries, Borosillicate glass, thin 1 mm x 0.75 mm</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">World Precision Instruments, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">TW1004</td>
			<td>For microneedles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Halocarbon oil 27</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">H8773100ML</td>
			<td>For hydration of embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="120">
			<td height="120" style="height:120px;width:223px;">Heated stage incubator</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">4118579020000, 4118609020000, 4118609010000</td>
			<td>For confocal imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="18">
			<td height="18" style="height:19px;width:223px;">Lab Tissue Wipers, KimWipes</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Kimberly-Clark</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">34155</td>
			<td>Lab tissue wipers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Light microscope, Invertoskop 40C Inverted Phase contrast microscope, refurbished</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Discontinued</td>
			<td>Injection microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">H36471KG</td>
			<td>Component of apple juice plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Microinjector, FemtoJet4x</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5253000025</td>
			<td>Microinjector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Micro loader tips, epT.I.P.S. 20 &#956;L</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">5242956003</td>
			<td>For loading microneedles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Micromanipulator and injection stage with x,y,z dials for needle adjustment</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Bernard Instruments, Inc (Houston, TX)</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Custom</td>
			<td>For performing microinjections</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Micropipette puller, Model P-97, Flaming/Brown</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Sutter Instruments</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">P97</td>
			<td>For pulling capillary tubes to make microneedles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Microscope cover glass 24x50-1.5</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">12544E</td>
			<td>For mounting embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Microscope slides, Lilac Colorfrost, Precleaned, 25 x 75 x 1mm</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">22037081</td>
			<td>For mounting embryos for injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">n-Heptane</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">H3601</td>
			<td>Component of embryo glue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Objective, 10x</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">Discontinued</td>
			<td>10x objective for injection microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Objective, C-Apochromat 40x/1,2 W Korr. FCS</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">4217679971711</td>
			<td>40x water objective for confocal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:223px;">Objective, LD LCI Plan-Apochromat 25x/0.8 Imm Cor DIC M27 for oil, water, silicone oil or glycerine immersion (D=0-0.17mm) (WD=0.57mm at D=0.17mm)</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">4208529871000</td>
			<td>25x mixed immersion objective for confocal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Objective, Plan-Apocrhomat 63x/1.40 Oil DIC f/ELYRA</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">4207829900799</td>
			<td>63x oil objective for confocal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Paintbrush, Robert Simmons Expression E85 Pointed Round size 2</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Daler-Rowney</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">038372016954</td>
			<td>For transferring embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Paper towels, Kleenex C-fold paper towels, white</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Kimberly-Clark</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">884266344845</td>
			<td>For blotting cell strainer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Pasteur pipette, 5 3/4 in</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">1367820A</td>
			<td>For covering embryos with oil</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Petri dish, glass, 100 x 20 mm</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">3160102</td>
			<td>For humid incubation chamber</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Petri dish, plastic, 60 x 15 mm</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">25384092</td>
			<td>For apple juice plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Pipette, Eppendorf Reference 0.5-10 &#956;L</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">2231000604</td>
			<td>For loading the microneedle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Pipette tip, xTIP4 250 &#956;L</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Biotix</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">63300006</td>
			<td>For adding embryo glue to coverslip</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Razor blade</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">55411050</td>
			<td>For cutting agar wedge, tape, pipette tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Rhodamine-conjugated globular actin, human platelet (non-muscle; 4x10 &#956;g)</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Cytoskeleton, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">APHR-A</td>
			<td>G-actin^Red</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Scintillation vial, 20 mL Glass borosillicate with polyethylene liner and urea caps</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">033377</td>
			<td>For making embryo glue</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Screw top jar, 16 oz</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Nalgene</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">000194414195</td>
			<td>For desiccating embryos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:223px;">Stage micrometer</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">602104PG</td>
			<td>For calibrating volume of G-actin injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Sucrose</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">840971KG</td>
			<td>Component of apple juice plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:223px;">Trizma base</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Millipore-Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">T15031KG</td>
			<td>Component of G buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="60">
			<td height="60" style="height:60px;width:223px;">Yeast, Lesaffre Yeast Corporation Yeast, Red Star Active Dry, 32 oz</td>
			<td style="width:195px;">Lesaffre Yeast Corporation</td>
			<td style="width:121px;">117929157002</td>
			<td>Component of yeast paste</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

imaging intranuclear actin rods in live heat stressed drosophila embryos

The purpose of this protocol is to visualize intranuclear actin rods that assemble in live Drosophila melanogaster embryos following heat stress. Actin rods are a hallmark of a conserved, inducible Actin Stress Response (ASR) that accompanies human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disease. Previously, we showed that the ASR contributes to morphogenesis failures and reduced viability of developing embryos. This protocol allows the continued study of mechanisms underlying actin rod assembly and the ASR in a model system that is highly amenable to imaging, genetics and biochemistry. Embryos are collected and mounted on a coverslip to prepare them for injection. Rhodamine-conjugated globular actin (G-actinRed) is diluted and loaded into a microneedle. A single injection is made into the center of each embryo. After injection, embryos are incubated at elevated temperature and intranuclear actin rods are then visualized by confocal microscopy. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments may be performed on the actin rods; and other actin-rich structures in the cytoplasm can also be imaged. We find that G-actinRed polymerizes like endogenous G-actin and does not, on its own, interfere with normal embryo development. One limitation of this protocol is that care must be taken during injection to avoid serious injury to the embryo. However, with practice, injecting G-actinRed into Drosophila embryos is a fast and reliable way to visualize actin rods and can easily be used with flies of any genotype or with the introduction of other cellular stresses, including hypoxia and oxidative stress.

A schematic workflow of embryo handling is depicted in Figure 1, and a timetable for a typical experiment is presented in Table 1. An estimate for a good experimental outcome is that for every 10 embryos injected, at least half of the embryos viewed will be at the correct developmental stage, undamaged, and exhibit a robust ASR with heat stress at 32 &#176;C. This ASR will be evidenced by the assembly of intranuclear actin rods as shown in the representative surface view ima...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos at JoVE.com

Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos

The goal of this protocol is to inject Rhodamine-conjugated globular actin into Drosophila embryos and image intranuclear actin rod assembly following heat stress.

Imaging Intranuclear Actin Rods in Live Heat Stressed Drosophila Embryos

The purpose of this protocol is to visualize intranuclear actin rods that assemble in live Drosophila melanogaster embryos following heat stress. Actin ...

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