Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry by exonuclease III (Exo III) digestion.

A new procedure is described to generate single-stranded DNA by exonuclease III (Exo III) digestion for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry on tissue sections. We compared this procedure with the most widely used procedure of DNA denaturation with 2 N HCl. In vivo and in vitro pulse and continuous labelling of tissues and cells were used. The specimens were fixed in formalin, ethanol, glutaraldehyde, Carnoy's, Bouin's or Zamboni's fixative and embedded in paraffin or used unfixed as cryostat sections or cytospin preparations. After Exo III digestion, BrdU substituted DNA was detected irrespective of the fixation procedure applied. The optimal protocol for nuclease digestion appeared to be simultaneous incubation, of 10 Units Exo III per ml EcoRI buffer and anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody at 37 degrees C. The advantages of Exo III digestion for BrdU immunocytochemistry compared to acid denaturation were: less non-specific nuclear background reactivity, no DNA renaturation, less DNA loss, optimal nuclear morphology, increase in antibody efficiency and the possibility for simultaneous detection of acid-sensitive tissue constituents. Disadvantages of the Exo III digestion are decreased sensitivity and the need for more rigorous pepsin pretreatment. We conclude that Exo III digestion of DNA is an appropriate alternative for acid denaturation for BrdU immunocytochemistry on sections of pulse-labelled specimens.     

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry by exonuclease III (Exo III) digestion

Summary A new procedure is described to generate single-stranded DNA by exonuclease III (Exo III) digestion for bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocytochemistry on tissue sections. We compared this procedure with the most widely used procedure of DNA denaturation with 2 N HCl. In vivo and in vitro pulse and continuous labelling of tissues and cells were used. The specimens were fixed in formalin, ethanol, glutaraldehyde, Carnoy's, Bouin's or Zamboni's fixative and embedded in paraffin or used unfixed as cryostat sections or cytospin preparations. After Exo III digestion, BrdU substituted DNA was detected irrespective of the fixation procedure applied. The optimal protocol for nuclease digestion appeared to be simultaneous incubation, of 10 Units Exo III per ml EcoRI buffer and anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody at 37° C. The advantages of Exo III digestion for BrdU immunocytochemistry compared to acid denaturation were: less non-specific nuclear background reactivity, no DNA renaturation, less DNA loss, optimal nuclear morphology, increase in antibody efficiency and the possibility for simultaneous detection of acid-sensitive tissue constituents. Disadvantages of the Exo III digestion are decreased sensitivity and the need for more rigorous pepsin pretreatment. We conclude that Exo III digestion of DNA is an appropriate alternative for acid denaturation for BrdU immunocytochemistry on sections of pulse-labelled specimens.     

Improved methodology for detecting bromodeoxyuridine in cultured cells and tissue sections by immunocytochemistry

Detection of DNA synthesizing cells may often be achieved by immunocytochemical detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), which is rapid and appears to give similar results to those found using tritiated thymidine. However, the methodology for detection of BrdU involves a denaturation or digestion step to allow access of the antibody to BrdU incorporated into single- rather than double-stranded DNA. We wished to determine if microwave treatment could be used to enhance the detection of BrdU without the need for any other digestion/denaturation steps. An important consideration was to investigate whether such treatment produces a similar quantitative result, since BrdU detection is usually assessed on the basis of cell number rather than topographical distribution. We have found that microwave treatment can allow considerably lower antibody concentrations and eliminates the need for any other denaturation step. It also reduces the non-specific background staining found when using monoclonal antibodies on mouse tissue. We have performed cell counts and found that the number of BrdU positive cells remains constant for a range of different immunocytochemical parameters. We also report conditions where immunopositivity is adversely affected by changes in technique and describe the optimised conditions for obtaining reproducible results.     

Tracer dose and availability time of thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine: application of bromodeoxyuridine in cell kinetic studies

The present experiments with [14C]-thymidine (TdR) and [3H]-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) using mouse jejunal crypt cells show that the upper limit of the tracer dose of TdR is about 0.5 microgram g body weight-1 and that of BrdU is about 5.0 micrograms g body weight-1. Applying these doses, the proportions of the endogenous DNA synthesis attributed to the exogenous DNA precursor are 2% and 9% respectively. For [3H]-TdR doses commonly used in cell kinetic studies this proportion is only 0.1-1.0%, a negligible quantity that does not influence the endogenous DNA synthesis. The maximum availability time of tracer doses of TdR as well as BrdU is 40 to 60 min, the majority of the precursors being incorporated after 20 min. The availability time is the same for TdR doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 80, whereas it is prolonged in the case of BrdU doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 50. BrdU is suitable to replace radioactively labelled TdR in short term cell kinetic studies, i.e. determination of the labelling index or of the S phase duration by double labelling. However, more studies are needed to elucidate how far BrdU can replace TdR in long term studies as shown by differences between the fraction of labelled mitoses (FLM) curves of a human renal cell carcinoma measured with BrdU and [3H]-TdR.     

Tracer dose and availability time of thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine: application of bromodeoxyuridine in cell kinetic studies

Abstract. The present experiments with [¹⁴C]-thymidine (TdR) and [³H]-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) using mouse jejunal crypt cells show that the upper limit of the tracer dose of TdR is about 0.5 µg g body weight^-1 and that of BrdU is about 5·0 µg g body weight^-1. Applying these doses, the proportions of the endogenous DNA synthesis attributed to the exogenous DNA precursor are 2% and 9% respectively. For [³H]-TdR doses commonly used in cell kinetic studies this proportion is only 0-1-1.0%, a negligible quantity that does not influence the endogenous DNA synthesis. The maximum availability time of tracer doses of TdR as well as BrdU is 40 to 60 min, the majority of the precursors being incorporated after 20 min. The availability time is the same for TdR doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 80, whereas it is prolonged in the case of BrdU doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 50. BrdU is suitable to replace radioactively labelled TdR in short term cell kinetic studies, i.e. determination of the labelling index or of the S phase duration by double labelling. However, more studies are needed to elucidate how far BrdU can replace TdR in long term studies as shown by differences between the fraction of labelled mitoses (FLM) curves of a human renal cell carcinoma measured with BrdU and [³H]-TdR.     

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

The regulation of cell proliferation is central to tissue morphogenesis during the development of multicellular organisms. Furthermore, loss of control of cell proliferation underlies the pathology of diseases like cancer. As such there is great need to be able to investigate cell proliferation and quantitate the proportion of cells in each phase of the cell cycle. It is also of vital importance to indistinguishably identify cells that are replicating their DNA within a larger population. Since a cell′s decision to proliferate is made in the G1 phase immediately before initiating DNA synthesis and progressing through the rest of the cell cycle, detection of DNA synthesis at this stage allows for an unambiguous determination of the status of growth regulation in cell culture experiments.DNA content in cells can be readily quantitated by flow cytometry of cells stained with propidium iodide, a fluorescent DNA intercalating dye. Similarly, active DNA synthesis can be quantitated by culturing cells in the presence of radioactive thymidine, harvesting the cells, and measuring the incorporation of radioactivity into an acid insoluble fraction. We have considerable expertise with cell cycle analysis and recommend a different approach. We Investigate cell proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine/fluorodeoxyuridine (abbreviated simply as BrdU) staining that detects the incorporation of these thymine analogs into recently synthesized DNA. Labeling and staining cells with BrdU, combined with total DNA staining by propidium iodide and analysis by flow cytometry¹ offers the most accurate measure of cells in the various stages of the cell cycle. It is our preferred method because it combines the detection of active DNA synthesis, through antibody based staining of BrdU, with total DNA content from propidium iodide. This allows for the clear separation of cells in G1 from early S phase, or late S phase from G2/M. Furthermore, this approach can be utilized to investigate the effects of many different cell stimuli and pharmacologic agents on the regulation of progression through these different cell cycle phases.In this report we describe methods for labeling and staining cultured cells, as well as their analysis by flow cytometry. We also include experimental examples of how this method can be used to measure the effects of growth inhibiting signals from cytokines such as TGF-β1, and proliferative inhibitors such as the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, p27KIP1. We also include an alternate protocol that allows for the analysis of cell cycle position in a sub-population of cells within a larger culture⁵. In this case, we demonstrate how to detect a cell cycle arrest in cells transfected with the retinoblastoma gene even when greatly outnumbered by untransfected cells in the same culture. These examples illustrate the many ways that DNA staining and flow cytometry can be utilized and adapted to investigate fundamental questions of mammalian cell cycle control.     

Iodination of herpesvirus nucleic acids.

A simple method is described for the iodination of herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA. The procedure involved synthesis of 125-I-labeled 5-iodo-dCTP which was subsequently used as a precursor for the in vitro repair synthesis of HSV DNA. Synthesis of 5-iodo-dCTP and purification from oxidation and reduction reagents, buffer salts, unreacted dCTP and Na125-I was accomplished in a single chromatographic step. It was possible to prepare 125-I-labeled HSV DNA in vitro with specific activities exceeding 10-8 counts/min/mu-g. The DNA prepared by this method reassociated with DNA extracted from HSV-infected HEp-2 cells but not with HEp-2 cell DNA. Iodinated HSV DNA was susceptible to S-1-endonuclease digestion once denatured but was resistant to digestion in the native form. This method was used to synthesize 125-I-labeled ribo-CTP (5-iodo-CTP) which was used to prepare cytomegalovirus-specific complementary RNA. The method should be of value in the preparation of viral probes and for use in autoradiography of viral nucleic acids.     

Comparison of cell proliferation index in equine and caprine embryos using a modified BrdU incorporation assay

The measurement of cell proliferation and cell viability using 5'bromo-2'deoxy-uridine (BrdU) labelling has been described in several cell types and species. The aim of this study was to adapt this technique to equine embryos and to compare the index of DNA replication (S-phase) between equine and caprine embryos. Seventeen equine embryos were recovered at day 6.5 post-ovulation and 20 caprine embryos were recovered at day 7 after the onset of estrus. Equine embryos were incubated during 1h at 39 degrees C in PBS containing 1mM of BrdU. Embryos were then treated in 0.05% trypsin during 15 min at 39 degrees C to permeabilise the capsule, and then embryos were rinsed in PBS containing 10% of foetal calf serum. After washing, embryos were immediately fixed in 2.5% paraformaldehyde with 0.3M NaOH during 15 min at ambient temperature. The S-phase was detected by immunocytochemistry technique. In caprine embryos, BrdU was visualised by the same technique but without the trypsin treatment. The percentage of cells (+/-S.E.M.) with BrdU incorporated into newly synthesised DNA strands was significantly higher in equine embryos (74+/-1) than in caprine (38+/-2). Our results demonstrated that BrdU incorporation assay can be used in equine embryos. This assay allows the determination of the proliferation index of live cells and could be used as an additional tool for evaluating the viability of embryos. The high percentage of cells incorporating BrdU during 1h of incubation with BrdU suggests that in comparison with the caprine embryos the cellular activity of proliferation is more intense in equine embryos and suggests that the cellular cycle is shorter in equine embryos.     

BrdU assay for neurogenesis in rodents

Neurogenesis within the adult central nervous system is demonstrated using an exogenous cell tracer, 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), in combination with endogenous neuronal markers. Specific primary antibodies raised against these markers are widely available and their visualization is possible with the use of fluorescently tagged secondary antibodies. BrdU is a thymidine analog that incorporates into dividing cells during DNA synthesis. Once incorporated into the new DNA, BrdU will remain in place and be passed down to daughter cells following division. Typically, BrdU is injected intraperitoneally. Different survival times required by the desired experimental time-line will yield data on specific phases of neurogenesis: proliferation, differentiation and maturation. One of the drawbacks of using BrdU is the dependence on a stressful injection procedure and uncertain penetration of the targeted cells with a uniform concentration of the compound. Thus, for experiments requiring measurements of cell proliferation, Ki67 can be used as an acceptable alternative. The protocol takes 3-5 d, allowing for sectioning and staining.     

DNA synthesis progression in 3T3 synchronized fibroblasts: a high resolution approach.

In order to investigate at ultrastructural level the mechanism of DNA synthesis progression during the different moments of S-phase a bromodeoxyuridine-anti bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU-anti BrdU) method has been applied to synchronized 3T3 fibroblasts. After 30 min BrdU incorporation, five different labelling patterns can be identified and should be related to early, middle and late S-phase. These patterns are represented mainly by diffuse labelling localized in different nuclear domains and by quite rare cases in which the labelling is limited to isolated clusters of gold particles. After a 5-min pulse with BrdU it is possible to observe isolated clusters of gold particles at each moment of S-phase, which, however, exhibit the same distribution of the five principal labelling patterns observed after 30 min incorporation. In both cases labelling can be detected in the interchromatin regions during early S-phase, at the boundary between interchromatin and heterochromatin during middle S-phase and in the heterochromatin domains during late S-phase. Considering their size, the isolated spots of labelling could be interpreted as single replication units which are subsequently activated throughout the different moments of the S-phase.     

Effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha on BrdU incorporation in cultured human enterocytes

Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation is a useful method for studying the pattern of DNA synthesis in proliferating cells. The distribution pattern of incorporated BrdU in villus enterocytes of duodenal explants was analysed after exposure to TNFalpha in organ culture. TNFalpha caused a consistent, low level uptake of BrdU in the portion of the nucleus close to the nuclear membrane, this pattern was absent from the control cultures. As these epithelial cells are terminally arrested in G(0), the BrdU incorporation was thought not to be due to S phase DNA synthesis, but rather a response to the cytotoxic influence of TNFalpha. Microtitre plate proliferation assays of cell density and DNA synthesis were devised to study the effects of TNFalpha on confluent monolayers of the human foetal jejunal cell line I407 and the mouse fibrosarcoma cell line L929. Both cell lines showed a similar response to TNFalpha. Exposure to TNFalpha alone did not reduce cell numbers but did cause a significant increase in DNA synthesis (p < 0.05). When cycloheximtde was added in tandem with TNFalpha there was a significant reduction in cell number (p < 0.001) and level of DNA synthesis (p < 0.01) indicative of cell death. The DNA of cells exposed to TNFalpha and cycloheximide was fragmented when viewed on an electrophoresis gel. The results show that BrdU incorporation might be a good indicator of damage to the DNA of cells after cytotoxic insult. TNFalpha may be responsible for villus enterocyte damage in enteropathies such as coeliac disease and GVHR of the small bowel.     

Quantification of DNA synthesis in multicellular organisms by a combined DAPI and BrdU technique

The development of a novel method to detect and quantify mitotic activity in multicellular organisms is reported. The method is based on the combinatorial use of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) as a dye for the specific staining of DNA and the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) as a marker for DNA synthesis. It is shown that on nitrocellulose filters, the amount of DNA can be determined by DAPI as a prerequisite for the subsequent quantification of mitotic activity by BrdU. As a model system to prove the applicability of this technique, the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni has been used. It is demonstrated that the DNA synthesis rate is higher in adult female schistosomes than in adult males. Furthermore, dimethyl sulfoxide, a widely used solvent for many mitogens and inhibitors of mitosis, has no influence on mitotic activity in adult schistosomes.     

Host DNA replication is induced by geminivirus infection of differentiated plant cells

The geminivirus Tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) replicates in differentiated plant cells using host DNA synthesis machinery. We used 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation to examine DNA synthesis directly in infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants to determine if viral reprogramming of host replication controls had an impact on host DNA replication. Immunoblot analysis revealed that up to 17-fold more BrdU was incorporated into chromosomal DNA of TGMV-infected versus mock-infected, similarly treated healthy leaves. Colocalization studies of viral DNA and BrdU demonstrated that BrdU incorporation was specific to infected cells and was associated with both host and viral DNA. TGMV and host DNA synthesis were inhibited differentially by aphidicolin but were equally sensitive to hydroxyurea. Short BrdU labeling times resulted in some infected cells showing punctate foci associated with host DNA. Longer periods showed BrdU label uniformly throughout host DNA, some of which showed condensed chromatin, only in infected nuclei. By contrast, BrdU associated with viral DNA was centralized and showed uniform, compartmentalized labeling. Our results demonstrate that chromosomal DNA is replicated in TGMV-infected cells.     

Simultaneous immunostaining method for localization of bromodeoxyuridine and calcitonin gene-related peptide.

A new simultaneous double immunostaining method has been optimized to localize the DNA synthesis marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in endocrine cells of Bouin's-fixed, paraffin-embedded rat lung. Nuclease pre-treatment before immunostaining is compatible with optimal tissue morphology and CGRP antigenicity preservation. Nickel-enhanced development of avidin-biotin-peroxidase staining is used to show CGRP immunoreactivity in black and alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase is applied to demonstrate incorporated BrdU in red. The present methodology could be useful for studies requiring detection of incorporated BrdU in cells producing regulatory peptides or other labile antigens.     

Characterization of the Pre-meiotic S Phase through Incorporation of BrdU during Spermatogenesis in the Rat

Seminiferous tubules in mammals have histological arrangements defined by the associations between somatic cells and germ cells. The processes of DNA synthesis in meiotic and mitotic cells have different features that are not easily distinguishable through morphological means. In order to characterize the pre-meiotic S phase, 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected intraperitoneally into Wistar rats, which were sacrificed 30 min, 2 hr, and 24 hr after injection. We found three different labeling patterns. One of these patterns was characterized by a distribution of the label in the form of speckles, most of which were associated with the nuclear envelope (labeling type I). We suggest that this pattern is due to mitotic DNA synthesis of type B spermatogonia. Labeling type II consisted of labeled foci scattered throughout the nuclear volume, which can be correlated with preleptotenic cells in pre-meiotic DNA synthesis. After 24 hr of incorporation, a third type of labeling, characterized by large speckles, was found to be related to cells in the “bouquet” stage; that is, cells in transition between the leptotene and zygotene phases. Our results indicate that BrdU incorporation induces different labeling patterns in the mitotic and pre-meiotic S phases and thus makes it possible to identify somatic and germinal cells.     

DNA synthesis progression in 3T3 synchronized fibroblasts: a high resolution approach

Summary In order to investigate at ultrastructural level the mechanism of DNA synthesis progression during the different moments of S-phase a bromodeoxyuridine-anti bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU-anti BrdU) method has been applied to synchronized 3T3 fibroblasts. After 30 min BrdU incorporation, five different labelling patterns can be identified and should be related to early, middle and late S-phase. These patterns are represented mainly by diffuse labelling localized in different nuclear domains and by quite rare cases in which the labelling is limited to isolated clusters of gold particles. After a 5-min pulse with BrdU it is possible to observe isolated clusters of gold particles at each moment of S-phase, which, however, exhibit the same distribution of the five principal labelling patterns observed after 30 min incorporation. In both cases labelling can be detected in the interchromatin regions during early S-phase, at the boundary between interchromatin and heterochromatin during middle S-phase and in the heterochromatin domains during late S-phase. Considering their size, the isolated spots of labelling could be interpreted as single replication units which are subsequently activated throughout the different moments of the S-phase.     

Fine structural in situ analysis of nascent DNA movement following DNA replication

Nascent DNA (newly replicated DNA) was visualized in situ with regard to the position of the previously replicated DNA and to chromatin structure. Localization of nascent DNA at the replication sites can be achieved through pulse labeling of cells with labeled DNA precursors during very short periods of time. We were able to label V79 Chinese Hamster cells for as shortly as 2 min with BrdU; Br-DNA, detected by immunoelectron microscopy, occurs at the periphery of dense chromatin, at individual dispersed chromatin fibers, and within dispersed chromatin areas. In these regions DNA polymerase alpha was also visualized. After a 5-min BrdU pulse, condensed chromatin also became labeled. When the pulse was followed by a chase, a larger number of gold particles occurred on condensed chromatin. Double-labeling experiments, consisting in first incubating cells with IdU for 20 min, chased for 10 min and then labeled for 5 min with CldU, reveal CldU-labeled nascent DNA on the periphery of condensed chromatin, while previously replicated IdU-labeled DNA has been internalized into condensed chromatin. Altogether, these results show that the sites of DNA replication correspond essentially to perichromatin regions and that the newly replicated DNA moves rapidly from replication sites toward the interior of condensed chromatin areas.     

Cell cycle kinetics of aerated, hypoxic and re-aerated cells in vitro using flow cytometric determination of cellular DNA and incorporated bromodeoxyuridine

The effects of extreme hypoxia on cell cycle progression were studied by simultaneous determination of DNA and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) contents of individual cells. V79-379A cells were pulse-labelled with BrdU (1 microM, 20 min, 37 degrees C) and then incubated for up to 12 hr in BrdU-free medium under either aerated or extremely hypoxic conditions. After the incubation interval (0-12 hr), the cells were trypsinized and fixed in 50% EtOH. Propidium iodide and a fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibody to BrdU were then used to quantify DNA content and incorporated BrdU, respectively. Measurements in individual cells were made by simultaneous detection of green and red fluorescence upon excitation at 488 nm using flow cytometry. Bivariate analysis revealed progression of BrdU-labelled cells in aerated cultures out of S phase, into G2 and cell division, with halving of mean fluorescence, and back into S phase by approximately 9 hr after the BrdU pulse. Hypoxia immediately arrested cells in all phases of the cell cycle. Both the DNA distribution and the bivariate profile of cells that were fixed from 2 to 12 hr after induction of hypoxia were identical to the 0 hr controls. The percent of cells with green fluorescence in a mid-S phase window remained 100% and the mean fluorescence of these cells remained at control (0 hr) levels. This indicates that, under hypoxic conditions, cells were moving neither into nor out of S phase. Cultures that had been hypoxic for 12 hr exhibited an increasing rate of BrdU uptake with time after re-aeration. Re-aerated cells were able to complete or initiate DNA synthesis, but their rates of progression through the cell cycle were markedly reduced. A large fraction of cells appeared unable to divide up to 12 hr following release from hypoxia.     

Studies of mechanisms of antibody formation: III. Effects of 5-bromodeoxyuridine upon normal and neoplastic B-lymphocyte function

Although 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) does not interfere with the rate of proliferation, or with total protein, DNA, or RNA synthesis in normal mouse spleen B cells exposed to specific antigenic excitation or to polyclonal activators, this agent has the capacity to block the appearance of IgM antibody-forming cells (AFC) in response to antigenic challenge in vitro with sheep red blood cells (sRBC), as well as the generation of anti-sRBC or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate-AFC in the course of polyclonal expansion. The effect of BrdU can be blocked competitively by a 10-fold excess of thymidine (TdR). CsCl density equilibrium analysis indicates that B cells with 55% BrdU substitution of TdR in a single DNA strand could participate in at least one additional division cycle, resulting in a double DNA strand substitution. BrdU substitution in a single DNA strand was sufficient, however, to block antibody secretion in B cells (unifilar dominance). When cells with single-strand BrdU substitution were allowed to proliferate in the presence of a 10-fold excess of TdR, the cells regained the capacity to synthesize and secrete specific antibody, demonstrating the reversibility of the inhibitory effect of BrdU upon this specialized B-cell function. Cells stimulated with LPS in the presence of BrdU exhibited higher rates of synthesis of total RNA as well as of the RNA species of the translation machinery (28, 18, and 5S and tRNA), measured by the rate of incorporation of radioactive precursors at the time of peak proliferation. Exposure to BrdU blocked the secretion of μ and light chains, although such cells had high levels of membrane IgM (mIgM) and were able to regenerate mIgM after enzymatic stripping. The regeneration of mIgM could be suppressed with α-amanitine and by actinomycin D, suggesting that the incorporation of BrdU into DNA does not affect the transcripition of nucleotide sequences for mIgM. MOPC 315 and 70 plasmocytoma cells cultured in the presence of BrdU for 60 hr regularly incorporated BrdU into one and two DNA strands. There was a 55–60% substitution of BrdU in single DNA strands. This situation produces complete inhibition of the production of IgM, μ, or light chains in normal cells. In contrast, plasmocytoma cells treated with BrdU secreted as many α, γ, and light chains as the corresponding control cells grown in the presence of TdR. This result points to possibly profound differences in the regulation of transcripition of Ig nucleotide sequences in lymphocytes which have undergone malignant transformation.     

Analysis of DNA replication profiles in budding yeast and mammalian cells using DNA combing

DNA combing is a powerful method developed by Bensimon and colleagues to stretch DNA molecules on silanized glass coverslips. This technique provides a unique way to monitor the activation of replication origins and the progression of replication forks at the level of single DNA molecules, after incorporation of thymidine analogs, such as 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdU) and 5-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine (CldU) in newly-synthesized DNA. Unlike microarray-based approaches, this assay gives access to the variability of replication profiles in individual cells. It can also be used to monitor the effect of DNA lesions on fork progression, arrest and restart. In this review, we propose standard DNA combing methods to analyze DNA replication in budding yeast and in human cells. We also show that 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) can be used as a good alternative to BrdU for DNA combing analysis, as unlike halogenated nucleotides, it can be detected without prior denaturation of DNA.