PUBLICATION

Spatiotemporal control of embryonic gene expression using caged morpholinos

Authors
Shestopalov, I.A., and Chen, J.K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-110921-11
Date
2011
Source
Methods in cell biology   104: 151-172 (Chapter)
Registered Authors
Chen, James K., Shestopalov, Ilya
Keywords
caged, embryo, gene regulation, morpholino, oligonucleotide, photoactivatable, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Fluorescein/chemistry
  • Transition Temperature
  • Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry
  • Body Patterning/genetics*
  • Microinjections/methods
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques/methods*
  • Morpholinos/chemical synthesis
  • Morpholinos/isolation & purification
  • Morpholinos/radiation effects*
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect/methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents/radiation effects
  • Gene Silencing
  • Larva/genetics
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
21924162 Full text @ Meth. Cell. Biol.
Abstract
Embryonic development depends on spatial and temporal control of gene function, and deciphering the molecular mechanisms that underlie pattern formation requires methods for perturbing gene expression with similar precision. Emerging chemical technologies can enable such perturbations, as exemplified by the use of caged morpholino (cMO) oligonucleotides to photo-inactivate genes in zebrafish embryos with spatiotemporal control. This chapter describes general principles for cMO design and methods for cMO assembly in three steps from commercially available reagents. Experimental techniques for the microinjection and photoactivation of these reagents are described in detail, as well as the preparation and application of caged fluorescein dextran (cFD) for labeling irradiated cells. Using these protocols, cMOs can be effective tools for functional genomic studies in zebrafish and other model organisms
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping