The authors thank the Medical Writing Center at Children&#39;s Mercy Kansas City for editing this manuscript. This work was supported by Natalie&#39;s A.R.T. Foundation (to T.P.) and by an MCA Partners Advisory Board grant from Children&#39;s Mercy Hospital (CMH) and the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) (to T.P.).

1. Synthesis of mRNA
NOTE: For the mRNA synthesis, all the reagents and equipment must be specially treated to inactivate the RNases before use. See the Table of Materials for details about all the materials, instruments, and reagents used in this protocol.
<ol>
	<li>Linearization of DNA 
	NOTE: Mouse cDNAs of CrkI and CrkL were cloned into the pFLAG-CMV-5a expression vector to add the FLAG epitope tag at the C-terminus and subcloned i...

<ol>
	<li>Palmer, T. D., Ashby, W. J., Lewis, J. D., Zijlstra, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+tumor+cell+motility+to+prevent+metastasis.">Targeting tumor cell motility to prevent metastasis.</a> Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 63 (8), 568-581 (2011).</li><li>Eccles, S. A., Box, C., Court, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+migration/invasion+assays+and+their+application+in+cancer+drug+discovery.">Cell migration/invasion assays and their application in cancer drug discovery.</a> Biotechnology Annual Review. 11, 391-421 (2005).</li><li>Kluiver, T. A., Alieva, M., van Vuurden, D. G., Wehrens, E. J., Rios, A. 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E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+adaptive+glioblastoma:+An+overview+of+proliferation+and+invasion.">Targeting adaptive glioblastoma: An overview of proliferation and invasion.</a> Neuro-Oncology. 16 (12), 1575-1584 (2014).</li><li>Wee, Y., Wang, T., Liu, Y., Li, X., Zhao, 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+pan-cancer+study+of+copy+number+gain+and+up-regulation+in+human+oncogenes.">A pan-cancer study of copy number gain and up-regulation in human oncogenes.</a> Life Sciences. 211, 206-214 (2018).</li><li>Zhao, M., Liu, Y., Qu, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expression+of+epithelial-mesenchymal+transition-related+genes+increases+with+copy+number+in+multiple+cancer+types.">Expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes increases with copy number in multiple cancer types.</a> Oncotarget. 7 (17), 24688-24699 (2016).</li><li>Pijuan, J., 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+cell+migration,+invasion,+and+adhesion+assays:+From+cell+imaging+to+data+analysis.">In vitro cell migration, invasion, and adhesion assays: From cell imaging to data analysis.</a> Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 7, 107 (2019).</li><li>Park, T., Large, N., Curran, T. <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+glioblastoma+phenotypes+in+vitro+establishes+cell+migration+as+a+robust+readout+of+Crk+and+CrkL+activity.">Quantitative assessment of glioblastoma phenotypes in vitro establishes cell migration as a robust readout of Crk and CrkL activity.</a> The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 296, 100390 (2021).</li><li>Urcan, 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=Real-time+xCELLigence+impedance+analysis+of+the+cytotoxicity+of+dental+composite+components+on+human+gingival+fibroblasts.">Real-time xCELLigence impedance analysis of the cytotoxicity of dental composite components on human gingival fibroblasts.</a> Dental Materials. 26 (1), 51-58 (2010).</li><li>Limame, R., 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=Comparative+analysis+of+dynamic+cell+viability,+migration+and+invasion+assessments+by+novel+real-time+technology+and+classic+endpoint+assays.">Comparative analysis of dynamic cell viability, migration and invasion assessments by novel real-time technology and classic endpoint assays.</a> PLoS One. 7 (10), e46536 (2012).</li><li>Mudduluru, G., Large, N., Park, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impedance-based+real-time+measurement+of+cancer+cell+migration+and+invasion.">Impedance-based real-time measurement of cancer cell migration and invasion.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. 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C., Dewitte, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+dawn+of+mRNA+vaccines:+The+COVID-19+case.">The dawn of mRNA vaccines: The COVID-19 case.</a> Journal of Controlled Release. 333, 511-520 (2021).</li><li>Heine, A., Juranek, S., Brossart, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Clinical+and+immunological+effects+of+mRNA+vaccines+in+malignant+diseases.">Clinical and immunological effects of mRNA vaccines in malignant diseases.</a> Molecular Cancer. 20 (1), 52 (2021).</li><li>Kwon, H., 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=Emergence+of+synthetic+mRNA:+In+vitro+synthesis+of+mRNA+and+its+applications+in+regenerative+medicine.">Emergence of synthetic mRNA: In vitro synthesis of mRNA and its applications in regenerative medicine.</a> Biomaterials. 156, 172-193 (2018).</li><li>Campillo-Davo, D., 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=The+ins+and+outs+of+messenger+RNA+electroporation+for+physical+gene+delivery+in+immune+cell-based+therapy.">The ins and outs of messenger RNA electroporation for physical gene delivery in immune cell-based therapy.</a> Pharmaceutics. 13 (3), 396 (2021).</li><li>Park, T., Koptyra, M., Curran, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblast+growth+requires+CT10+regulator+of+kinase+(Crk)+and+Crk-like+(CrkL).">Fibroblast growth requires CT10 regulator of kinase (Crk) and Crk-like (CrkL).</a> The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 291 (51), 26273-26290 (2016).</li><li>Park, T. J., Curran, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Essential+roles+of+Crk+and+CrkL+in+fibroblast+structure+and+motility.">Essential roles of Crk and CrkL in fibroblast structure and motility.</a> Oncogene. 33 (43), 5121-5132 (2014).</li><li>Chou, P. P., Jaynes, P. K., King, B. P., Chapman, E., Bailey, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Precision+comparison+between+conventional+(method-I)+and+reverse+(method-Ii)+pipetting.">Precision comparison between conventional (method-I) and reverse (method-Ii) pipetting.</a> Clinical Chemistry. 30 (6), 958 (1984).</li><li>Pushparaj, P. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Revisiting+the+micropipetting+techniques+in+biomedical+sciences:+A+fundamental+prerequisite+in+good+laboratory+practice.">Revisiting the micropipetting techniques in biomedical sciences: A fundamental prerequisite in good laboratory practice.</a> Bioinformation. 16 (1), 8-12 (2020).</li><li>Park, T. J., Curran, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Crk+and+Crk-like+play+essential+overlapping+roles+downstream+of+disabled-1+in+the+Reelin+pathway.">Crk and Crk-like play essential overlapping roles downstream of disabled-1 in the Reelin pathway.</a> The Journal of Neuroscience. 28 (50), 13551-13562 (2008).</li><li>Huang, Y., 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=CRK+proteins+selectively+regulate+T+cell+migration+into+inflamed+tissues.">CRK proteins selectively regulate T cell migration into inflamed tissues.</a> The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 125 (3), 1019-1032 (2015).</li><li>Wang, 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=Signaling+adaptor+protein+Crk+is+indispensable+for+malignant+feature+of+glioblastoma+cell+line+KMG4.">Signaling adaptor protein Crk is indispensable for malignant feature of glioblastoma cell line KMG4.</a> Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 362 (4), 976-981 (2007).</li><li>Kumar, S., 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=Reciprocal+regulation+of+Abl+kinase+by+Crk+Y251+and+Abi1+controls+invasive+phenotypes+in+glioblastoma.">Reciprocal regulation of Abl kinase by Crk Y251 and Abi1 controls invasive phenotypes in glioblastoma.</a> Oncotarget. 6 (35), 37792-37807 (2015).</li><li>Kumar, S., 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=Crk+tyrosine+phosphorylation+regulates+PDGF-BB-inducible+Src+activation+and+breast+tumorigenicity+and+metastasis.">Crk tyrosine phosphorylation regulates PDGF-BB-inducible Src activation and breast tumorigenicity and metastasis.</a> Molecular Cancer Research. 16 (1), 173-183 (2018).</li><li>Raudenska, M., 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=Engine+shutdown:+Migrastatic+strategies+and+prevention+of+metastases.">Engine shutdown: Migrastatic strategies and prevention of metastases.</a> Trends in Cancer. 9 (4), 293-308 (2023).</li><li>Decaestecker, C., Debeir, O., Van Ham, P., Kiss, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Can+anti-migratory+drugs+be+screened+in+vitro?+A+review+of+2D+and+3D+assays+for+the+quantitative+analysis+of+cell+migration.">Can anti-migratory drugs be screened in vitro? A review of 2D and 3D assays for the quantitative analysis of cell migration.</a> Medicinal Research Reviews. 27 (2), 149-176 (2007).</li><li>Farasani, A., Darbre, P. 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M., 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=Knock+down+of+TIMP-2+by+siRNA+and+CRISPR/Cas9+mediates+diverse+cellular+reprogramming+of+metastasis+and+chemosensitivity+in+ovarian+cancer.">Knock down of TIMP-2 by siRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 mediates diverse cellular reprogramming of metastasis and chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer.</a> Cancer Cell International. 22 (1), 422 (2022).</li><li>Mosca, 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=Effects+of+S-adenosyl-L-methionine+on+the+invasion+and+migration+of+head+and+neck+squamous+cancer+cells+and+analysis+of+the+underlying+mechanisms.">Effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine on the invasion and migration of head and neck squamous cancer cells and analysis of the underlying mechanisms.</a> International Journal of Oncology. 56 (5), 1212-1224 (2020).</li><li>Zhao, Q., 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=VEGI174+protein+and+its+functional+domain+peptides+exert+antitumour+effects+on+renal+cell+carcinoma.">VEGI174 protein and its functional domain peptides exert antitumour effects on renal cell carcinoma.</a> International Journal of Oncology. 54 (1), 390-398 (2019).</li><li>Witte, D., 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=TGF-beta1-induced+cell+migration+in+pancreatic+carcinoma+cells+is+RAC1+and+NOX4-dependent+and+requires+RAC1+and+NOX4-dependent+activation+of+p38+MAPK.">TGF-beta1-induced cell migration in pancreatic carcinoma cells is RAC1 and NOX4-dependent and requires RAC1 and NOX4-dependent activation of p38 MAPK.</a> Oncology Reports. 38 (6), 3693-3701 (2017).</li><li>Bui, L. 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Migration and invasion are important features of tumor cells. Measuring the motility of tumor cells and understanding the underlying mechanism that controls tumor cell motility provide critical insights into therapeutic interventions2,27. Several methods have been developed to study cell migration7. The wound-healing assay using scratches or culture inserts is a simple and frequently used method that provides contrasting images of gap clos...

Tumor cell motility plays a crucial role in metastasis1,2. The spread of tumor cells to neighboring and remote healthy tissues makes cancer treatment difficult and contributes to recurrence3,4. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of tumor cell motility and develop relevant therapeutic strategies. Since many tumor cells have altered gene expression profiles, it is crucial to understand which changes in the gene expression profile lead to altered tumor cell motility5,6.
Several assays have been developed to measure cell migration in vitro. Some assays only provide limited information due to only allowing measurements at specific time points, whereas others offer comprehensive information on tumor cell motility in real time7. Although many of these cell motility assays can provide quantitative results at a given time or the endpoint, they fail to provide sufficiently detailed information on dynamic changes in the rate of cell migration over the experimental period. In addition, it may be difficult to examine potential changes in the cell migration rate depending on experimental design, cell types, and cell numbers. Furthermore, the effects of uncomplicated treatments can be investigated by the simple quantification of traditional motility assays, but more sophisticated quantification may be required to study the complex effects of various combined treatments8.
An instrument to monitor the electrical current of a microtiter plate well bottom covered with microelectrodes has been developed9. The adhesion of cells to the surface of the well impedes the electron flow, and the impedance correlates with the quantitative and qualitative binding of the cells. The presence of the microelectrodes on the well bottom allows for the measurement of cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. The presence of the microelectrodes underneath a microporous membrane of the upper chamber allows for the measurement of cell migration and invasion into the lower chamber, with the upper chamber coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to allow for invasion10.
Previously, it was demonstrated that impedance-based real-time measurements of tumor cell migration and invasion provide real-time data during the whole experiment, as well as instant comparisons and quantifications under various experimental conditions11. In that method paper, gene knockdown was induced to test the role of proteins of interest in tumor cell migration and invasion. Since a full-blown gene knockdown effect under the tested experimental conditions took 3-4 days after electroporation with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)8, the cells were replated after the electroporation and reharvested 3 days later for the impedance-based real-time measurement of tumor cell migration and invasion.
CT10 regulator of kinase (Crk) and Crk-like (CrkL) are adaptor proteins that mediate protein-protein interactions downstream of various growth factor receptor kinase pathways and nonreceptor tyrosine kinase pathways12. Elevated levels of Crk and CrkL proteins contribute to poor prognosis in several human cancers, including glioblastoma13. However, it is unclear how elevated Crk and CrkL proteins lead to a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is important to define the effect of Crk and CrkL overexpression on tumor cell functions. Previously, a gene knockdown study was performed to demonstrate that endogenous levels of Crk and CrkL proteins are required for glioblastoma cell migration and invasion8. Here, a modified assay system has been developed to address the effect of Crk and CrkL overexpression on tumor cell migration and invasion.
Recently, the in vitro synthesis of mRNA and its therapeutic applications have drawn renewed attention due to the development of the mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (reviewed by Verbeke et al.14). In addition, remarkable advances have been made in using synthetic mRNA in cancer and other diseases15,16. The electroporation of cells is an effective method to deliver synthetic mRNA and induce transient genetic modification (reviewed by Campillo-Davo et al.17), and the use of synthetic mRNA enables rapid and efficient gene expression in immortalized fibroblasts18. This method paper combines gene overexpression using synthetic mRNA with real-time cell analyses to study tumor cell migration and invasion. However, the experimental scheme used for siRNAs does not work with synthetic mRNA transfection, as the level of exogenous proteins increases rapidly and decreases gradually upon synthetic mRNA transfection18. Therefore, the method has been modified to carry out the real-time analysis of cell migration and invasion right after the transfection without additionally culturing the cells.
This method paper demonstrates that combining impedance-based real-time measurements with the transfection of tumor cells with synthetic mRNAs provides a rapid and comprehensive analysis of the effects of gene upregulation on tumor cell migration and invasion. This method paper describes detailed procedures for measuring how the migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells are affected by the overexpression of Crk and CrkL. By examining the concentration-dependent effects of synthetic mRNA on tumor cell migration, the paper clearly describes how an increase in protein levels stimulates tumor cell migration. In addition, an approach of varying the concentration of the ECM gel is presented to assess the effects of changes in gene expression on tumor cell invasion.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>AlphaImager HP</td>
			<td>ProteinSimple</td>
			<td>92-13823-00</td>
			<td>Agarose gel imaging system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#945;-Tubulin antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T9026</td>
			<td>Used to detect &#945;-tubulin protein (dilution 1:3,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CIM-plate 16</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies, Inc</td>
			<td>5665825001</td>
			<td>Cell invasion and migration plates</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Crk antibody</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>610035</td>
			<td>Used to detect CrkI and CrkII proteins (dilution 1:1,500)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CrkL antibody</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz</td>
			<td>sc-319</td>
			<td>Used to detect CrkL protein (dilution 1:1,500)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle&#8217;s Medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>302002</td>
			<td>Cell culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>21-031-CV</td>
			<td>Buffer used to wash cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30910.03</td>
			<td>Culture medium supplement</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heracell VIOS 160i CO2 incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>51030285</td>
			<td>CO2 incubator</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IRDye 800CW goat anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Li-Cor</td>
			<td>926-32210</td>
			<td>Secondary antibody for Western blot analysis (dilution 1:10,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IRDye 800CW goat anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibody</td>
			<td>Li-Cor</td>
			<td>926-32211</td>
			<td>Secondary antibody for Western blot analysis&#160; (dilution 1:10,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lithium chloride&#160;</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM9480</td>
			<td>Used for RNA precipitation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matrigel matrix</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>354234</td>
			<td>Extracellular matrix (ECM) gel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEGAscript T7 transcription kit</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM1334</td>
			<td>Used for RNA synthesis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Millennium RNA markers</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM7150</td>
			<td>Used for formaldehyde agarose gel electrophoresis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini centrifuge</td>
			<td>ISC BioExpress</td>
			<td>C1301P-ISC</td>
			<td>Used to spin down cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse brain QUICK-Clone cDNA</td>
			<td>TaKaRa</td>
			<td>637301</td>
			<td>Source of genes (inserts) for cloning</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NanoQuant</td>
			<td>Tecan</td>
			<td>M200PRO</td>
			<td>Nucleic acid quantification system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neon electroporation system&#160;</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>MPK5000</td>
			<td>Electroporation system1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neon transfection system 10 &#181;L kit</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>MPK1025</td>
			<td>Electroporation kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neon transfection system 100 &#181;L kit</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>MPK10096</td>
			<td>Electroporation kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NorthernMax denaturing gel buffer</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM8676</td>
			<td>Used for formaldehyde agarose gel electrophoresis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NorthernMax formaldehyde load dye</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM8552</td>
			<td>Used for formaldehyde agarose gel electrophoresis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NorthernMax running buffer</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM8671</td>
			<td>Used for formaldehyde agarose gel electrophoresis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nuclease-free water</td>
			<td>Teknova</td>
			<td>W3331</td>
			<td>Used for various reactions during mRNA synthesis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Odyssey CLx Imager</td>
			<td>Li-Cor</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Imager for Western blot analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pcDNA3.1/myc-His</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>V80020</td>
			<td>The vector into which inserts (mouse CrkI and CrkL cDNAs) were cloned</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pFLAG-CMV-5a</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>E7523</td>
			<td>Source of the FLAG epitope tag</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P2069</td>
			<td>Used for DNA extraction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PmeI</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R0560L</td>
			<td>Used to linearize the plasmids for mRNA synthesis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(A) tailing kit</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM1350</td>
			<td>Used for poly(A) tail reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polystyrene tissue culture dish (100 x 20 mm style)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>353003</td>
			<td>Used for culturing cells before transfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polystyrene tissue culture dish (35 x 10 mm style)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>353001</td>
			<td>Used for culturing transfected cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Proteinase K</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>25530049</td>
			<td>Used to remove protein in the reaction mixture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purifier Axiom Class II, Type C1</td>
			<td>Labconco Corporation</td>
			<td>304410001</td>
			<td>Biosafety cabinet for sterile handling of cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Resuspension Buffer R</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>A buffer included in the electroporation kits, MPK1025 and MPK10096. The buffer is used to resupend cells before electroporation, and its composition is proprietary information.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNaseZap</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>AM9780</td>
			<td>RNA decontamination solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scepter</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>C85360</td>
			<td>Handheld automated cell counter&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ScriptCap 2&#39;-O-methyltransferase kit</td>
			<td>Cellscript</td>
			<td>C-SCMT0625</td>
			<td>Used for capping reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ScriptCap m7G capping system</td>
			<td>Cellscript</td>
			<td>C-SCCE0625</td>
			<td>Used for capping reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium dodecyl sulfate solution</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15553-035</td>
			<td>Detergent used for the proteinase K reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorvall Legend XT centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>75004532</td>
			<td>Benchtop centrifuge to spin down cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25300-054</td>
			<td>Used for dissociation of cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>U-118MG&#160;</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>HTB15</td>
			<td>An adherent cell line derived from a human glioblastoma patient</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vinculin antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>V9131</td>
			<td>Used to detect vinculin protein (dilution 1:100,000)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>xCELLigence RTCA DP</td>
			<td>Agilent Technologies, Inc</td>
			<td>380601050</td>
			<td>Instrument used for real-time cell analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1Electroporation parameters and other related information for various cell lines are available on the manufacturer&#39;s homepage (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-culture/transfection/neon-transfection-system/neon-transfection-system-cell-line-data.html?).</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

real-time quantitative measurement of tumor cell migration and invasion following synthetic mrna transfection

Tumor cells are highly motile and invasive and display altered gene expression patterns. Knowledge of how changes in gene expression regulate tumor cell migration and invasion is essential for understanding the mechanisms of tumor cell infiltration into neighboring healthy tissues and metastasis. Previously, it was demonstrated that gene knockdown followed by the impedance-based real-time measurement of tumor cell migration and invasion enables the identification of the genes required for tumor cell migration and invasion. Recently, the mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have increased interest in using synthetic mRNA for therapeutic purposes. Here, the method using synthetic mRNA was revised to study the effect of gene overexpression on tumor cell migration and invasion. This study demonstrates that elevated gene expression with synthetic mRNA transfection followed by impedance-based real-time measurement may help identify the genes that stimulate tumor cell migration and invasion. This method paper provides important details on the procedures for examining the effect of altered gene expression on tumor cell migration and invasion.

Crk and CrkL proteins play important roles in the motility of many cell types, including neurons22, T cells23, fibroblasts18,19, and a variety of tumor cells13. Since Crk and CrkL proteins have been reported to be elevated in glioblastoma24,25,26, the effects of the overexpression of CrkI, a splice v...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection at JoVE.com

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

Many upregulated genes stimulate tumor cell migration and invasion, leading to poor prognosis. Determining which genes regulate tumor cell migration and invasion is critical. This protocol presents a method for investigating the effects of the increased expression of a gene on the migration and invasion of tumor cells in real time.

Tumor cells are highly motile and invasive and display altered gene expression patterns. Knowledge of how changes in gene expression regulate tumor cell ...

This protocol demonstrate that combining sensation messenger RNA transaction with impedance based real time measurements of cell migration and invasion facilitate the identification of gene that stimulate tumor cell migration and invasion. The impedance based real time cell analysis system enables quantitative, continuous, and comprehensive monitoring of tumor cell migration upon gene expression changes. Genes that are over expressing tumors and stimulate tumor cell migration can be identified as potential target to inhibit metastasis in cancer therapy.To begin, add 10 microliters of 10x reaction buffer, 1.5 microliters of PNE one, and 10 micrograms of a plasmid DNA to a micro centrifuge tube to linearized the plasmid DNA with the restriction enzyme. Add nuclease free water to bring the reaction volume to 100 microliters. Mix it by tapping and spinning it down before incubating the reaction mixture at 37 degrees Celsius overnight.Again, spin down and add five microliters of 10%SDS, and one microliter of 20 milligrams per milliliter of RNA grade proteinase K to the reaction mixture before mixing it and spinning it down. After 30 minutes of incubation at 50 degrees Celsius, add two microliters each of 10x transcription buffer, ATP, GTP, UTP, CTP, and T7, and one microgram of a linearized DNA to a micro centrifuge tube for T7 RNA polymerase mediated RNA synthesis. Add nuclease free water to bring the reaction volume to 20 microliters.After a spin down, incubate the reaction mixture at 37 degrees Celsius for two hours for RNA synthesis. Next, spin down and add one microliter of DNAs and tap before 15 minutes of incubation at 37 degrees Celsius to remove the template DNA. Begin the lithium chloride precipitation of the RNA by adding 10 microliters of 7.5 molar lithium chloride to the reaction mixture.After tapping and spinning down, incubate the reaction mixture at minus 20 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. For capping heat the RNA sample at 65 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes and then place it on ice for cooling. Next, add capping reaction components and mix by tapping.Spin down and incubate the reaction mixture at 37 degrees Celsius for one hour. For poly-A tailing, spin down the sample and add the poly-A tailing reaction components. Then tap, spin down, and incubate the reaction mixture at 37 degrees Celsius for two hours.For lithium chloride precipitation and quantification of the synthetic mRNA, add 50 microliters of 7.5 molar lithium chloride and perform the lithium chloride precipitation. Remove an aliquot of ECM gel stock from the freezer and keep it on ice. Dilute the 10 milligrams per liter ECM gel to a working concentration by mixing 990 microliters of DMEM with 10 microliters of ECM gel in a micro centrifuge tube.Mix by gentle pipetting. Add 60 microliters of diluted ECM gel to each of the 16 wells of the upper chamber of the CIM plate. Place the upper chamber of the CIM plate with the plate cover off on a protective plastic sheet inside a carbon dioxide incubator for approximately four hours to form a gel layer.For electroporation, add one milliliter of DPBS to the tumor cell suspension in each tube. Tap the cell suspension and spin down three times for 10 seconds. Remove the supernatant using a micro pipette.Add 110 microliters of resuspension buffer R to the cell pellet to obtain 0.1 million cells in 10 microliters. Add synthetic mRNA to the cell pellet to obtain the 0.2 to 20 nanograms per microliter concentration depending on the desired expression level. Mix and resuspend the cell pellet gently by tapping.Next, electroporate 10 microliters of the cell suspension with an electroporation system at 1, 350 volts for 10 milliseconds with three pulses each time. Once done, transfer the electroporated cells into a new micro centrifuge tube with 1.1 milliliters of DMEM containing 0.5%FBS. Open the analysis program by double clicking on the real-time cell analysis software icon.After opening the default experiment pattern setup option, select the option for running three experiments separately. Open each cradle by clicking on the number tab. Next, click the experiment notes tab.Select the folder and save the data by entering the experiment's name. Click on the layout tab and select four wells at a time to set up the quad duplicate wells for each treatment condition. Enter the sample information and click on apply.Click on the schedule tab, then add a step to set up the two step mode of the cell impedance measurements. Then, click apply to set up the first step. Click on add a step again and enter 10 minutes for the interval and 48 hours for the duration of migration and invasion.Then, click on apply to set up the second step. One hour before the cell impedance measurement, add 160 microliters of DMEM containing 10%serum or other chemo attractants to the wells of the lower chamber of the CIM plate. Assemble the upper chamber containing the ECM gel coated wells for invasion or uncoated wells for migration with the lower chamber.For the cell migration assay, add 50 microliters of low serum medium to the wells of the upper chamber of the CIM plate. Place the CIM plate and the cradle of the system in the CO2 incubator. Click on the message tab.Once the connection's okay, message is displayed, the CIM plate is ready for the experiment. Pre-incubate the assembled CIM plate in the carbon dioxide incubator for 30 to 60 minutes before the real time cell analysis to acclimate the CIM plate to the culture condition. For the baseline reading, click the start button for each cradle.When the save as window appears, save the experimental file to perform the baseline reading. For cell seating, remove the CIM plate from the cradle and place it in the biosafety cabinet on the plate holder. Then add 100 microliters of electroporated cells containing 100, 000 cells to the wells of the upper chamber of the CIM plate, and leave the CIM plate under the biosafety cabinet for 30 minutes at room temperature.Measure the cell impedance by moving the fully assembled CIM plate back to the respective cradle. Begin the cell impedance measurement for the second step by clicking on the cradle start button and on the plot tab. Then click the add all button and select the average and standard deviation boxes to visualize the data in real time.The electroporation of U 118 mg glioblastoma cells with varying concentrations of synthetic crack one mRNA resulted in a concentration dependent increase in flag tagged crack one protein one day after transfection. 0.2 and two nanograms per microliter mRNA led to an undetectable or modest expression of the exogenous crack one protein. 20 nanograms per microliter mRNA resulted in a higher expression level than the endogenous crack one protein.The cell migration assay indicated that the electroporation was 0.2 or two nanograms per microliter crack one mRNA did not greatly affect cell migration. However, electroporation with 20 nanograms per microliter crack one mRNA led to a clear stimulation of cell migration with more cells migrating between two and 13 hours revealing that glioblastoma cell migration was stimulated by the increase in the crack one protein level. The electroporation with synthetic crack L mRNA led to a robust expression of flag tagged crack L protein one day after transfection.The invasion of the control cells slowed down with the increased ECM protein concentration. Crack L over expressing cells showed an ECM gel concentration dependent decrease in cell invasion. The comparison between the control and crack L over expressing cells at different ECM gel concentrations indicated that crack L overexpression generally stimulated cell invasion through the ECM gel layer.The results also suggested that the two cell populations were differentially affected by increasing ECM gel concentration at different time points. Cells should be resuspended quickly, gently, and completely in the resuspended bubble R people electroporation because long incubation of cells in the resuspended bubble R makes cells unhealthy. Fast and slow migrating tumor cells can be isolated to characterize differences between the two cell populations.

real-time-quantitative-measurement-tumor-cell-migration-invasion

Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

562 Views.  Children’s Mercy Kansas City. This protocol demonstrate that combining sensation messenger RNA transaction with impedance based real time measurements of cell migration and invasion facilitate the identification of gene that stimulate tumor cell migration and invasion. The impedance based real time cell analysis system enables quantitative, continuous, and comprehensive monitoring of tumor cell migration upon gene expression changes. Genes that are over expressing tumors and stimulate tumor cell migration can be identifie...