March 2012: This Month in JoVE

Summary

Here are some highlights from the March 2012 Issue of Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).

Protocol

Calcium imaging of odor-evoked responses in the Drosophila antennal lobe

Ana F. Silbering¹, Rati Bell¹, C. Giovanni Galizia², Richard Benton^1
1Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, ²Department of Biology, University of Konstanz

We describe an established technique to measure and analyze odor-evoked calcium responses in the antennal lobe of living Drosophila melanogaster.

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Guilherme G. Artioli¹, Rômulo Bertuzzi², Hamilton Roschel^{1, 3}, Sandro H. Mendes¹, Antonio H. Lancha¹, Emerson Franchini^4
1Laboratory of Applied Nutrition, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, ²Aerobic Performance Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, ³Laboratory of Neuromuscular Adaptations to Strength Training, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, ⁴Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo

This protocol allows researchers focused on exercise and sports sciences to determine the relative contribution of three different energy systems to the total energy expenditure during a large variety of exercises.

High and Low Throughput Screens with Root-knot Nematodes Meloidogyne spp.

Hagop S. Atamian, Philip A. Roberts, Isgouhi Kaloshian
Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside

Two distinct methods to screen plants with root-knot nematodes are described. The described approaches include high-throughput screens with nematodes in a nondestructive manner facilitating the use of these plants in breeding programs.

Creating Transient Cell Membrane Pores Using a Standard Inkjet Printer

Alexander B. Owczarczak, Stephen O. Shuford, Scott T. Wood, Sandra Deitch, Delphine Dean
Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University

A description of the methods used to convert an HP DeskJet 500 printer into a bioprinter. The printer is capable of processing living cells, which causes transient pores in the membrane. These pores can be utilized to incorporate small molecules, including fluorescent G-actin, into the printed cells.

Assessing Teratogenic Changes in a Zebrafish Model of Fetal Alcohol Exposure

Evyn Loucks¹, Sara Ahlgren^{1, 2
1}Program in Developmental Biology, Children's Memorial Research Center, ²Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University

In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of the ethanol-induced developmental damage, we have developed a zebrafish model of ethanol exposure and are exploring the physical, cellular, and genetic alterations that occur after ethanol exposure¹. We then seek to find potential interventions and rapidly test them in this animal model.

Methods to assay Drosophila behavior

Charles D. Nichols¹, Jaime Becnel¹, Udai B. Pandey^2
1Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, ²Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Drosophila melanogaster is a genetically and behaviorally tractable model system that has been used to understand the molecular and cellular basis of many important biological processes for over a century¹. Drosophila has been well exploited to gain insights into the genetic basis of fly behavior.

Fruit Volatile Analysis using an Electronic Nose

Simona Vallone¹, Nathan W. Lloyd², Susan E. Ebeler³, Florence Zakharov^1
1Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, ²Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science, University of California, Davis, ³Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis

A rapid method for volatile compound analysis in fruit is described. The volatile compounds present in the headspace of a homogenate of the sample are rapidly separated and detected with ultra-fast gas chromatography (GC) coupled with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor. A procedure for data handling and analysis is also discussed.