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Calcium-Binding Protein Protocols Calcium-Binding Protein Protocols

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360 Hughes et al.<br />

range, repeat steps 1–4 and leave the reactions for a longer time or analyze a<br />

smaller volume of each lysate (see Note 8).<br />

3.3.2. Luciferase Assay<br />

Luciferase catalyzes the oxidation of its substrate luciferin, which leads to<br />

an emission of light. To carry out this reaction, use a commercially available<br />

kit (see Subheading 2.3.). The following protocol is a general outline of the<br />

procedure, but refer to the protocol that comes with your kit for specific details.<br />

1. Prepare enough luciferase assay reagent for your samples. Equilibrate this to room<br />

temperature, the optimal temperature for luciferase activity measurements.<br />

2. Aliquot 20 µL of the supernatant of each centrifuged lysate to a luminometer<br />

cuvet and leave at room temperature for 5 min to equilibrate.<br />

3. Taking one cuvet at a time, add the recommended volume of luciferase assay<br />

reagent. Immediately measure the light emission of the reaction by placing the<br />

cuvet in a luminometer. It is important to transfer the cuvet to the luminometer as<br />

soon as possible after adding the reagent because the light intensity of the reaction<br />

is constant for only a few seconds (specified in your kit information) and<br />

then begins to decay.<br />

3.4. Analysis of Data<br />

The luciferase activity value is a measure of transcription initiated from the<br />

reporter plasmid. However, the luciferase value of one transfection cannot<br />

without precaution be directly compared with the luciferase value of another,<br />

because the cells might not have received an identical amount of DNA during<br />

the electroporation. The β-galactosidase value is a measure of the efficiency of<br />

an individual transfection. Therefore, to compare different transfections, normalize<br />

the luciferase value of each individual transfection by dividing it by its<br />

corresponding β-galactosidase value. To determine the effect of (over-) expressing<br />

the cDNA, compare the luciferase/β-galactosidase value of that transfection<br />

to the luciferase/β-galactosidase value of cells transfected with an empty<br />

expression plasmid.<br />

4. Notes<br />

1. When choosing the promoters of the expression and internal control plasmids,<br />

consider the possibility that the protein you wish to (over-) express may influence<br />

transcription from the promoter. It is best to avoid such a promoter.<br />

2. Although many electroporation cuvets are recommended for single use only, they<br />

can be reused up to 10 times with little effect on transfection efficiency. After use,<br />

cuvets are thoroughly rinsed in water and stored dry. Sterilize them by standing<br />

in a beaker of 70% ethanol a few hours before use, and then allow them to air dry<br />

(approx 30 min) in the hood prior to adding cells.

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