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Electroporation and EGFP labeling of gastrulating quail embryos
Author(s) -
Cui Cheng,
Lansford Rusty,
Filla Mike B.,
Little Charles D.,
Cheuvront Tracey J.,
Rongish Brenda J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20895
Subject(s) - electroporation , gastrulation , biology , quail , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , in ovo , green fluorescent protein , embryonic stem cell , embryogenesis , plasmid , dna , genetics , gene , endocrinology
Labeling embryonic cells to trace their motion is a classical experimental approach with a host of techniques being used to mark live cells and tissues. Genetically engineered fluorescent protein vectors (DNA plasmids) are a recent technology well suited to time‐resolved studies of cellular motion in live embryos. DNA plasmids encoding fluorescent proteins can be introduced into cells using several methods, including electroporation, a technique used widely for analysis of tissue culture and embryonic cells. Here we describe a technique designed to introduce DNA plasmids into early gastrulation stage quail embryos, ex ovo. The method is effective, and with practice enables an investigator to direct the vectors to relatively confined regions of gastrulating embryos. The required electroporation chamber can be fabricated from common laboratory materials. We anticipate that using this method of labeling cells in a warm‐blooded embryo, during gastrulation, will be a fruitful means of studying subsequent embryogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 235:2802–2810, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.