Retrograde Labeling of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Adult Zebrafish with Fluorescent Dyes

As retrograde labeling retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can isolate RGCs somata from dying sites, it has become the gold standard for counting RGCs in RGCs survival and regeneration experiments. Many studies have been performed in mammalian animals to research RGCs survival after optic nerve injury. However, retrograde labeling of RGCs in adult zebrafish has not yet been reported, though some alternative methods can count cell numbers in retinal ganglion cell layers (RGCL). Considering the small size of the adult zebrafish skull and the high risk of death after drilling on the skull, we open the skull with the help of acid-etching and seal the hole with a light curing bond, which could significantly improve the survival rate. After absorbing the dyes for 5 days, almost all the RGCs are labeled. As this method does not need to transect the optic nerve, it is irreplaceable in the research of RGCs survival after optic nerve crush in adult zebrafish. Here, we introduce this method step by step and provide representative results.     

The Efficiency of DNA Labeling with Near-Infrared Fluorescent Dyes

The efficiency of DNA labeling was assessed for 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (dUTP) derivatives containing the Cy7 cyanine dye as a fluorophore. Two fluorescent Cy7-labeled dUTP analogs differed in the chemical structure of the linker between the fluorophore and nucleotide moieties. The efficiency of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and inhibition with modified nucleotides were estimated by real-time PCR. The efficiency of labeled nucleotide incorporation in PCR products was measured by quantitative electrophoresis. The efficiency of target DNA labeling was evaluated by binding the fluorescently labeled PCR products to a microarray of oligonucleotide probes immobilized in hydrogel drops (a biochip). The near-infrared hybridization signal was detected by digital luminescence microscopy. An increase in linker length was found to provide more efficient incorporation of the labeled nucleotide. Both of the compounds provided high sensitivity and high specificity of DNA testing via allele-specific hybridization on a biochip.

     

In vitro Labeling of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have demonstrated the ability to restore the injured myocardium. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as one of the predominant imaging modalities to assess the restoration of the injured myocardium. Furthermore, ex-vivo labeling agents, such as iron-oxide nanoparticles, have been employed to track and localize the transplanted stem cells. However, this method does not monitor a fundamental cellular biology property regarding the viability of transplanted cells. It has been known that manganese chloride (MnCl₂) enters the cells via voltage-gated calcium (Ca²⁺) channels when the cells are biologically active, and accumulates intracellularly to generate T¹ shortening effect. Therefore, we suggest that manganese-guided MRI can be useful to monitor cell viability after the transplantation of hESC into the myocardium.In this video, we will show how to label hESC with MnCl₂ and how those cells can be clearly seen by using MRI in vitro. At the same time, biological activity of Ca²⁺-channels will be modulated utilizing both Ca²⁺-channel agonist and antagonist to evaluate concomitant signal changes.Download video file.^{(69M, mov)}     

Novel Positively Charged Nanoparticle Labeling for In Vivo Imaging of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells

Stem cell transplantation has been expected to have various applications for regenerative medicine. However, in order to detect and trace the transplanted stem cells in the body, non-invasive and widely clinically available cell imaging technologies are required. In this paper, we focused on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technology, and investigated whether the trimethylamino dextran-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle -03 (TMADM-03), which was newly developed by our group, could be used for labeling adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) as a contrast agent. No cytotoxicity was observed in ASCs transduced with less than 100 µg-Fe/mL of TMADM-03 after a one hour transduction time. The transduction efficiency of TMADM-03 into ASCs was about four-fold more efficient than that of the alkali-treated dextran-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (ATDM), which is a major component of commercially available contrast agents such as ferucarbotran (Resovist), and the level of labeling was maintained for at least two weeks. In addition, the differentiation ability of ASCs labeled with TMADM-03 and their ability to produce cytokines such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), were confirmed to be maintained. The ASCs labeled with TMADM-03 were transplanted into the left kidney capsule of a mouse. The labeled ASCs could be imaged with good contrast using a 1T MR imaging system. These data suggest that TMADM-03 can therefore be utilized as a contrast agent for the MR imaging of stem cells.     

The Detection of Tension Wood with Fluorescent Dyes

Sections of a thickness of 15 β cut from unfixed material by means of a freezing microtome were treated for 1 hr with 0.2% aqueous solutions of a number of fluorochromes. Under normal microscopical conditions no uniform staining pattern could be observed. With the aid of an ultraviolet microscope, however, one type of fluorescence pattern became apparent. In all cases observed the thickened gelatinous secondary cell walls of tension wood showed a remarkable lack of fluorescence; this in marked contrast with a very distinct fluorescence exhibited by the primary cell wall and by both primary and secondary cell walls of normal wood.     

保卫细胞液泡活体标记方法的比较

液泡的活体标记是研究保卫细胞液泡动态的前提.结合作者的研究,介绍了利用丫啶橙 (acridine orange, AO)、Lysotracker Red DND-99、二乙酸荧光素(fluorescein diacetate, FDA)、2', 7'-二(羧乙基)-5(6)-羧基荧光黄(BCECF-AM)以及绿色荧光蛋白( green fluorescent protein, GFP)转基因等活体标记保卫细胞液泡的方法.研究结果表明, AO可以方便和快捷的标记保卫细胞液泡; FDA标记可以显示液泡的边界, 也可以用于保卫细胞液泡的标记.利用转染GFP融合基因的方法也是标记保卫细胞液泡的最好选择.     

Fluorescent Labeling of COS-7 Expressing SNAP-tag Fusion Proteins for Live Cell Imaging

SNAP-tag and CLIP-tag protein labeling systems enable the specific, covalent attachment of molecules, including fluorescent dyes, to a protein of interest in live cells. These systems offer a broad selection of fluorescent substrates optimized for a range of imaging instrumentation. Once cloned and expressed, the tagged protein can be used with a variety of substrates for numerous downstream applications without having to clone again. There are two steps to using this system: cloning and expression of the protein of interest as a SNAP-tag fusion, and labeling of the fusion with the SNAP-tag substrate of choice. The SNAP-tag is a small protein based on human O⁶-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (hAGT), a DNA repair protein. SNAP-tag labels are dyes conjugated to guanine or chloropyrimidine leaving groups via a benzyl linker. In the labeling reaction, the substituted benzyl group of the substrate is covalently attached to the SNAP-tag. CLIP-tag is a modified version of SNAP-tag, engineered to react with benzylcytosine rather than benzylguanine derivatives. When used in conjunction with SNAP-tag, CLIP-tag enables the orthogonal and complementary labeling of two proteins simultaneously in the same cells.Download video file.^{(47M, mov)}     

Labeling and Imaging Cells in the Zebrafish Hindbrain

Key to understanding the morphogenetic processes that shape the early vertebrate embryo is the ability to image cells at high resolution. In zebrafish embryos, injection of plasmid DNA results in mosaic expression, allowing for the visualization of single cells or small clusters of cells ¹ . We describe how injection of plasmid DNA encoding membrane-targeted Green Fluorescent Protein (mGFP) under the control of a ubiquitous promoter can be used for imaging cells undergoing neurulation. Central to this protocol is the methodology for imaging labeled cells at high resolution in sections and also in real time. This protocol entails the injection of mGFP DNA into young zebrafish embryos. Embryos are then processed for vibratome sectioning, antibody labeling and imaging with a confocal microscope. Alternatively, live embryos expressing mGFP can be imaged using time-lapse confocal microscopy. We have previously used this straightforward approach to analyze the cellular behaviors that drive neural tube formation in the hindbrain region of zebrafish embryos ². The fixed preparations allowed for unprecedented visualization of cell shapes and organization in the neural tube while live imaging complemented this approach enabling a better understanding of the cellular dynamics that take place during neurulation.Download video file.^{(105M, mp4)}     

Fluorescent Probes for HOCl Detection in Living Cells

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) plays an important role in the immune system not only protecting the organism from pathogens, but also, due to its high...     

Dual Labeling with Green Fluorescent Proteins for Confocal Microscopy

We report a dual labeling technique involving two green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants that is compatible with confocal microscopy. Two lasers were used to obtain images of (i) mixed cultures of cells, where one species contained GFPuv and another species contained GFPmut2 or GFPmut3, and (ii) a single species containing both GFPuv and GFPmut2 in the same cell. This method shows promise for monitoring gene expression and as a nondestructive and in situ technique for confocal microscopy of multispecies biofilms.     

Efficient In Vitro Labeling Rabbit Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with SPIO and Differentiating into Neural-Like Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into neural cells to treat nervous system diseases. Magnetic resonance is an ideal means for cell tracking through labeling cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). However, no studies have described the neural differentiation ability of SPIO-labeled MSCs, which is the foundation for cell therapy and cell tracking in vivo. Our results showed that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) labeled in vitro with SPIO can be induced into neural-like cells without affecting the viability and labeling efficiency. The cellular uptake of SPIO was maintained after labeled BM-MSCs differentiated into neural-like cells, which were the basis for transplanted cells that can be dynamically and non-invasively tracked in vivo by MRI. Moreover, the SPIO-labeled induced neural-like cells showed neural cell morphology and expressed related markers such as NSE, MAP-2. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp recording demonstrated that these neural-like cells exhibited electrophysiological properties of neurons. More importantly, there was no significant difference in the cellular viability and [Ca²⁺]i between the induced labeled and unlabeled neural-like cells. In this study, we show for the first time that SPIO-labeled MSCs retained their differentiation capacity and could differentiate into neural-like cells with high cell viability and a good cellular state in vitro.     

Efficient Generation of Neural Stem Cell-Like Cells from Rat Adipose Derived Stem Cells After Lentiviral Transduction with Green Fluorescent Protein

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can be isolated from nervous tissues or derived from embryonic stem cells. However, their procurement for clinical applications is limited, and there is a need for alternative types of cell that have NSCs properties. In the present study, the differentiation potential of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) was evaluated by infecting these cells with a lentiviral vector-encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). ADSCs transduced with lentivirus were able to generate NSC-like cells, without any effects on their growth, phenotype, and normal differentiation potential. NSC-like cells derived from ADSCs formed neurospheres and expressed high levels of the neural progenitor marker nestin. In the absence of selected growth factors, these neurospheres differentiated into neurons expressing NeuN and MAP2 and GFAP-expressing glia, as determined by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. These results demonstrate that ADSCs can be induced to generate neurospheres that have NSC-like properties and may thus constitute a potential source of cells in stem cell therapy for neurological disorders.     

超顺磁性氧化铁纳米粒子标记骨髓间充质干细胞实验研究

目的:研究不加转染剂,超顺磁性氧化铁纳米粒子(superparamagnetic iron oxide,SPIO)对骨髓间充质干细胞(bonemarrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)的标记效果.方法:全骨髓法培养猪骨髓间充质干细胞,用50 ug/ml铁浓度的SPIO标记MSCs,普鲁士蓝染色鉴定标记效果,流式细胞仪测定标记MSCs的增殖及凋亡,台盼蓝染色检测标记细胞的活力.结果:不加转染剂,SPIO标记MSCs达100%,50 ug/ml铁浓度标记对MSCs活力、增殖及凋亡无影响.结论:不加转染剂,50 ug/ml铁浓度SPIO可安全、有效的标记MSCs.     

绿色荧光蛋白标记检测鸦胆子素D抗TMV活性

以绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescent protein, GFP）为报告基因,将含TMV表达载体的质粒p35S-30B：GFP转化农杆菌EHA 105,通过渗透法把经MMA诱导后的农杆菌悬浮液注射到本氏烟叶片内,测定了鸦胆子素D （Bruceine D） 对烟草植株内TMV的增殖和运动的抑制作用;通过PEG介导法把p35S-30B：GFP转化到本氏烟叶肉细胞原生质体内,测定了Bruceine D对烟草原生质体中TMV增殖的抑制效果.结果表明,在10 μg/mL浓度下,Bruceine D不仅可抑制烟草叶肉细胞原生质体中TMV的增殖,还可以抑制烟草接种叶中TMV向茎部及植株上部叶片移动,且对寄主植物不造成明显的毒害.     

荧光磁性纳米粒子标记间充质干细胞靶向胃癌研究

目的:探索一种高效的早期胃癌诊断体系.方法:荧光磁性纳米粒子与间充质干细胞共培养,不同时间点检测干细胞存活率.利用荧光显微镜、普鲁士蓝染色、透射电子显微镜等方法观测干细胞被标记情况;建立裸鼠的胃癌模型,并将标记后的干细胞尾静脉注射入裸鼠体内,14d后用动物成像仪和核磁共振成像仪检测.结果:荧光磁性纳米粒子在低于 100μg/mL浓度下对间充质干细胞没有毒性作用,荧光磁性纳米粒子与干细胞共培养6h后,荧光显微镜、普鲁士蓝染色、透射电子显微镜检测结果显示粒子被内吞后定位于细胞质中,动物实验显示通过检测肿瘤部位的荧光信号和核磁信号,被标记的干细胞能够准确定位到胃癌的发生部位.结论:这种双模式检测体系为胃癌的早期诊断与治疗提供一种新的方法.     

New Pyrene Derivatives for Fluorescent Labeling of Oligonucleotides

Abstract

A series of pyrene-containing reagents have been synthesized and used for the fluorescent labeling of oligonucleotides.     

Intrinsic Protein Fluorescence Interferes with Detection of Tear Glycoproteins in SDS-Polyacrylamide Gels Using Extrinsic Fluorescent Dyes

Intrinsic protein fluorescence may interfere with the visualization of proteins after SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. In an attempt to analyze tear glycoproteins in gels, we ran tear samples and stained the proteins with a glycoprotein-specific fluorescent dye. The fluorescence detected was not limited to glycoproteins. There was strong intrinsic fluorescence of proteins normally found in tears after soaking the gels in 40% methanol plus 1-10% acetic acid and, to a lesser extent, in methanol or acetic acid alone. Nanograms of proteins gave visible native fluorescence and interfere with extrinsic fluorescent dye detection. Poly-L-lysine, which does not contain intrinsically fluorescent amino acids, did not fluoresce.     

Visualizing the Live Drosophila Glial-neuromuscular Junction with Fluorescent Dyes

Our project identified GFP labeled glial structures at the developing larval fly neuromuscular synapse. To look at development of live glial-nerve-muscle synapses, we developed a larval tissue preparation that had features of live intact larvae, but also had good optical properties. This new preparation also allowed for access of perfusates to the synapse. We used fly larvae, immersed them in artificial hemolymph, and relaxed their normal rhythmic body contractions by chilling them. Next we dissected off the posterior segments of each animal and with a blunt insect pin pushed the mouth parts backward through the body cavity. This everted the larval body wall, like turning a sock inside-out. We completed the dissection with ultra-fine dissection scissors and thus exposed the visceral side of the body wall muscles. The glial structures at the NMJ expressed membrane targeted GFP under the control of glial specific promoters. The post-synaptic membrane, the SSR (Subsynaptic Reticula) in muscle expressed synaptically targeted dsRed. We needed to acutely label the motor neuron terminals, the third part of the synapse. To do this we applied primary antibodies to HRP, conjugated to a far-red emitting flurophore. To test for dye diffusion properties into the perisynaptic space between the motor neuron terminals and the SSR, we applied a solution of large Dextran molecules conjugated to far-red emitting flurophore and collected images.