Method Article

Lineage Labeling of Zebrafish Cells with Laser Uncagable Fluorescein Dextran

DOI:

10.3791/2672

April 28th, 2011

In This Article

Erratum Notice

Important: There has been an erratum issued for this article. Read More ...

Erratum

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

Formal Correction: Erratum: Lineage Labeling of Zebrafish Cells with Laser Uncagable Fluorescein Dextran
Posted by JoVE Editors on 5/25/2011. Citeable Link.

A correction was made to Lineage Labeling of Zebrafish Cells with Laser Uncagable Fluorescein Dextran. There was an error in the authors, Ilya A. Shestopalov and James K. Chen, names. The author's names have been corrected to:

Ilya A. Shestopalov and James K. Chen

instead of:

Ilya Shestopalov and James Chen

Summary

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

This protocol delineates a way to label and trace the fate of small groups of cells zebrafish embryos using UV-uncaging of caged fluorescein, followed by whole mount immunolabeling to amplify the signal from the uncaged fluorescein.

Abstract

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

A central problem in developmental biology is to deduce the origin of the myriad cell types present in vertebrates as they arise from undifferentiated precursors. Researchers have employed various methods of lineage labeling, such as DiI labeling1 and pressure injection of traceable enzymes2 to ascertain cell fate at later stages of development in model systems. The first fate maps in zebrafish (Danio rerio) were assembled by iontophoretic injection of fluorescent dyes, such as rhodamine dextran, into single cells in discrete regions of the embryo and tracing the labeled cell's fate over time3-5. While effective, these methods are technically demanding and require specialized equipment not commonly found in zebrafish labs. Recently, photoconvertable fluorescent proteins, such as Eos and Kaede, which irreversibly switch from green to red fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, are seeing increased use in zebrafish6-8. The optical clarity of the zebrafish embryo and the relative ease of transgenesis have made these particularily attractive tools for lineage labeling and to observe the migration of cells in vivo7. Despite their utility, these proteins have some disadvantages compared to dye-mediated lineage labeling methods. The most crucial is the difficulty we have found in obtaining high 3-D resolution during photoconversion of these proteins. In this light, perhaps the best combination of resolution and ease of use for lineage labeling in zebrafish makes use of caged fluorescein dextran, a fluorescent dye that is bound to a quenching group that masks its fluorescence9. The dye can then be "uncaged" (released from the quenching group) within a specific cell using UV light from a laser or mercury lamp, allowing visualization of its fluorescence or immunodetection. Unlike iontophoretic methods, caged fluorescein can be injected with standard injection apparatuses and uncaged with an epifluorescence microscope equipped with a pinhole10. In addition, antibodies against fluorescein detect only the uncaged form, and the epitope survives fixation well11. Finally, caged fluorescein can be activated with very high 3-D resolution, especially if two-photon microscopy is employed 12,13. This protocol describes a method of lineage labeling by caged fluorescein and laser uncaging. Subsequenctly, uncaged fluorescein is detected simultaneously with other epitopes such as GFP by labeling with antibodies.

Protocol

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

1. Synthesis of Caged Fluorescein Dextran

  1. Measure out 3.5 - 4 mg of aminodextran and add into the Invitrogen-supplied tinted tube containing 1 mg of CMNB-caged fluorescein SE. In our hands this ratio gives an average loading of ~ 2.5 dye molecules per dextran.
  2. Add 500 μL of 0.1 M Na2B4O7 (sodium borate) buffer to the tube.
  3. Cap and vortex for 30 seconds to dissolve the aminodextran and caged fluorescein.
  4. Let react overnight on a vortexing mixer.
  5. Twist off the bottom closure on a Zeba spin column and loosen the cap. Mark a dot on the column with a felt-tip pen. Place column in a 15-mL ....

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Discussion

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

As described, this protocol provides a relatively quick lineage labeling method in zebrafish that is built upon the commonly used techniques of microinjection, microscopy, and immunofluorescence. We have found that laser uncaging to be the most efficient and cost effective way to uncage fluorescein in a localized fashion. This method could be used to lineage label with experimental endpoints as late as 4 dpf. However, as cells divide, the caged-fluorescein concentration per cell eventually decreases beyond detectable lev.......

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Disclosures

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

No conflicts of interest declared.

Acknowledgements

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

We would like to thank Dan Carlin for help in making caged fluorescein. In addition we would like to thank the following funding sources: Vanderbilt University Medical School Program for Developmental Biology Training Grant to JAC, and NIH HD054534to JTG.

....

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
CMNB-caged fluorescein SEInvitrogenC20050
Aminodextran, 10kDaInvitrogenD1860
Zeba desalt spin columnsPierce, Thermo Scientific89889
goat anti-fluorescein antibodyInvitrogenA11095
Alexa Fluor 633 Donkey anti-goat antibodyInvitrogenA21082
35mmx10mm petri dishesBD Biosciences351008
Upright compound microscope with 40x water immersion objectiveLeica MicrosystemsDM6000B
MicroPoint Manual Laser Illumination SystemPhotonic Instruments
Phenylthiourea (PTU)Alfa AesarL06690
TricaineSigma-AldrichE10521
Proteinase KRoche Group03115836991
Plastic threadAny Supplier
AgaroseResearch Products International Corp.A20090
SpeedVacThermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.Savant SPD131DDA
Vortexing mixerVWR internationalVortex Genie 2
Pressure injectorApplied Scientific InstrumentationMPPI-3

References

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,
  1. Hatada, Y., Stern, C. D. A fate map of the epiblast of the early chick embryo. Development. 120, 2879-2889 (1994).
  2. Moody, S. A. Fates of the blastomeres of the 32-cell-stage Xenopus embryo. Dev Biol. 122, 300-319 (1987).
  3. Wetts, R., Fraser, S. E.

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Reprints and Permissions

Request permission to reuse the text or figures of this JoVE article

Request Permission

Tags

Zebrafish EmbryoCaged FluoresceinLaser UncagingLineage LabelingFluorescein DextranUV LaserImmunofluorescence DetectionEmbryo MountingConfocal MicroscopyAntibody Labeling

Related Articles