Re: GFP and cell cycle

From: Derek Davies (daviesd2@icrf.icnet.uk)
Date: Wed Oct 04 2000 - 07:48:54 EST


Hi Candace,

Ethanol fixation generally reduces GFP fluorescence and the way round
this (other than using Hoechst for DNA which you cant do!) is to fix
initially in paraformaldehye which will cross-link the protein and
preserve a large amount of the GFP fluorescence. DNA profiles following
aldehyde fixation alone arent generally that good - CVs are increased,
accessibility is reduced and cell cycle analysis isnt as accurate. You
can _to an extent_ circumvent that by having a sequential fixation in
paraformaldehyde and then ethanol or even permeabilistaion with saponin.
The times concentrations etc need to be empirically determined.

Low GFP signals can be a problem as any fixation may reduce them. We
never really see a problem with PI overwhelming a GFP signal, but if you
have a two laser Calibur you can always try TO-PRO-3 as your DNA stain.
I think there are several protocosl out there for 7AAD DNA analysis, I
think Ingrid Schmid has done quite a bit of this so a literature serach
should pull something out.

Good luck!

Derek


On Mon, 2 Oct 2000, Candace Enockson wrote:
> I have a client who wants to do cell cylce on GFP transfected cells.  Since
> I do not have a sorter, I need to be able to do this on a Calibur.  She has
> found some comments that claim you can do DNA with a formaldehyde fix
> rather than ethanol. Is that true?  Also, I read on this list a while back
> that PI may be so bright that it may overwhelm low GFP signal so 7AAD would
> be the better choice.  I have not been able to find a protocol for cell
> cycle with 7AAD.  Any help would be greatly appreciated, as always.

************************************************************************
Derek Davies                       Voice: (44) 020 7269 3394
FACS Laboratory,                   FAX: (44) 020 7269 3100
Imperial Cancer Research Fund,     e_mail: derek.davies@icrf.icnet.uk
London, UK			   mobile: 07790 604112

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