Re: Autofl. and CFP

From: Andy Riddell (ar3@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk)
Date: Sat Aug 07 1999 - 09:06:01 EST


> Hello everybody,
>
>at present I'm having a problem with CFP (Golgi fusion) expressing HeLa
>cells. In the initial round of sorting I can detect the cells above
>background without a problem, excitation is at 457nm em515/10 (I know I
>need a better em filter here; working on it).
>I can purify them to approx 60-80% (depending on how stable they are) in
>the first round of sorting; however in the 2nd round the CFP signal appears
>to have diminished - i.e few cells above background- (maybe in the
>transient phase the cells are brighter).
>
>Under the microscope one sees high (blueish) autofluorescence but also the
>CFP signal i.e approx 60%pos. - not very bright but there.
>So what I was thinking of doing is:
>
>staining the cells with CFDA, to interfere with the background
>fluorescence, which isn't excited at 457nm. Right? Will it work?? Why not?
>
>
>Regards
>Ann
>
>PS: We can't afford a 433nm laser (which would be the ideal excitation)
>because the users have just bought me a MoFlo, and anyway I would have to
>give priority to a new UV laser, the one I have being 12 years old and
>decrepit, and on its last legs. I've the wake already planned.

Ann,

I would not use CFDA to quench the auto fluorescence because the excitation
spectra of the CFDA (475-492nm at Acid->Alkali pH) is very close to the
emission spectra of your CFP. FRET may occur and you may lose your CFP
signal altogether. Also the filter set that you are looking at the CFP
fluorescence is perfect for the emission of CFDA( 517nm) and would compound
the problem if you use a 488nm line as well. The 457nm line that you excite
CFP with will excite CFDA minimally, but that excitation may be enough to
saturate your CFP signal.


Hope this helps.

Andy.

Andy Riddell
PNAC Division
MRC LMB
Hills Road
Cambridge
UK
tel: (0)1223 402218
fax: (0)1223 412178
email ar3@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk



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