Surface Spreading and Immunostaining of Yeast Chromosomes

Summary

A method for surface-spreading chromosomes from budding yeast is presented. This method is derived from a method previously described by Loidl and Klein. In addition, we demonstrate a procedure for immunostaining of spread chromosomes.

Abstract

The small size of nuclei of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae limits the utility of light microscopy for analysis of the subnuclear distribution of chromatin-bound proteins. Surface spreading of yeast nuclei results in expansion of chromatin without loss of bound proteins. A method for surface spreading balances fixation of DNA bound proteins with detergent treatment. The method demonstrated is slightly modified from that described by Josef Loidl and Franz Klein^1,2. The method has been used to characterize the localization of many chromatin-bound proteins at various stages of the mitotic cell cycle, but is especially useful for the study of meiotic chromosome structures such as meiotic recombinosomes and the synaptonemal complex. We also describe a modification that does not require use of Lipsol, a proprietary detergent, which was called for in the original procedure, but no longer commercially available. An immunostaining protocol that is compatible with the chromosome spreading method is also described.

Introduction

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers many advantages for studies of molecular mechanisms of biological processes, including the study of proteins that control chromosome function. Although there are well-known advantages of budding yeast for genetic, molecular, and biochemical studies, cytological studies of the distribution of proteins in the cell’s nucleus is complicated by its small size. The typical yeast nucleus has a diameter of less than one micron, which is only about 5 times the resolution limit of visible light. Thus, the amount of information about the distribution of nuclear proteins that can be obtained from conventional immuno....

Protocol

NOTE: Some steps of the protocol below require working in a clean fume hood. In addition, the method requires a yeast tetrad dissection microscope equipped with a 10X long working distance objective to monitor spheroplasting. The microscope should be set up in the hood ahead of time. Remove the micromanipulator arm and plate holder from the scope and place these items in a safe place away from the work area.

1. Preparation of Spheroplasts

1. Grow yeast under desired conditions. Use about 2 x 10⁸ cells for each sample, e.g. 4 ml of a culture at OD600 1.4 = 5 x 10⁷ cells/ml. Although immediate processing of samp....

Results

The appearance of spread nuclei critically depends upon the balance between chromosome fixation and de-compaction. Even when the reagents are properly balanced, variation in the degree of chromosome de-compaction can occur in different regions of the same slide and/or between different slides. Thus, the quality of spreads in a given region of a slide should be assessed before images are interpreted.

The effects of “overspreading” and “underspreading” can be illustrated using antibodies against.......

Discussion

The appearance of spread nuclei critically depends upon the balance between fixation and lysis/detergent treatment. As discussed above, the preservation of varying cellular structures requires the use of different PFA concentrations. For most proteins, 3% PFA is optimal. However, preservation of spindles requires use of 4% PFA. Even with a single set of reagents, the timing of lysis relative to fixation can also affect the quality of spread nuclei. For the most consistent results, the time of lysis should be normalize.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Zymolyase	US Biological	Z1004	Prepare 20 mg/mL solution in 50 mM Tris pH 7.5 supplemented with 2% glucose. Prepare fresh each experiment and store at 4°C until ready for use.
Lipsol	L.I.P. Ltd	no longer commercially available	Prepare 1% (v/v) solution in water. Store on ice.
NP-40	USB	19628	Prepare 1% (v/v) solution in water. Store on ice.
Tween 20	Sigma	P2287
Slides	Corning	2948-75x25
Standard coverslip	Fisher	12-544-E or 12-540-B
High resolution coverslips	Fisher	12-542-B
Photo-Flo 200 solution	Kodak	P-7417	Prepare 0.2% (v/v) solution in water.
TBS			137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 24.7 mM Tris, pH 8
BSA	Sigma	A2153	Prepare a 1% (w/v) solution in TBS. Store at 4°C for up to a month.
Primary antibody
Alexa Fluor 488 Donkey Anti-Rabbit	Invitrogen	A-21206
IgG (H+L) Antibody
Vectashield mounting media with DAPI	Vector Laboratories	H-1200
ProLong Gold	Invitrogen	P36930
Plastic slide box	Fisher	03-448-1	Store slides containing dried spreads in slots at -20°C. Also, use as a wet chamber.
Cardboard slide box	Fisher	12-587-10	Use to conveniently transport stained/sealed slides or store at 4°C.
Coplin jar	Fisher	08-816	Use as a wash basin for slides.