Cell Function Studies
Cell Function Studies - Related Videos
15:13
Structure-function Studies in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Using Recombinase-mediated Cassette Exchange
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Cited by 6 •
2017
Proteins often contain multiple domains that can exert different cellular functions. Gene knock-outs (KO) do not consider this functional diversity. Here, we report a recombination-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE)-based structure-function approach in KO embryonic stem cells that allows for the molecular dissection of various functional domains or variants of a protein.
07:26
Isolation of Functional Cardiac Immune Cells
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Cited by 9 •
2011
This method for isolating functional immune cells from the heart provides an alternative to the conventional methods of collagenase digestion, which causes unwanted immune cell activation, resulting in a decreased responsiveness of these cells. Our method of isolation yields functional cardiac immune cells by avoiding problems associated with enzymatic digestion.
06:30
Cell Lineage Analyses and Gene Function Studies Using Twin-spot MARCM
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Cited by 2 •
2017
Here, we present a protocol for a mosaic labeling technique that permits the visualization of neurons derived from a common progenitor cell in two distinct colors. This facilitates neural lineage analysis with the capability of birth-dating individual neurons and studying gene function in the same neurons of different individuals.
10:22
Reconstitution of a Kv Channel into Lipid Membranes for Structural and Functional Studies
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Cited by 11 •
2013
Procedures for complete reconstitution of a prototype voltage-gated potassium channel into lipid membranes are described. The reconstituted channels are suitable for biochemical assays, electrical recordings, ligand screening and electron crystallographic studies. These methods may have general applications to the structural and functional studies of other membrane proteins.
11:31
Generating CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Monoallelic Deletions to Study Enhancer Function in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
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Cited by 23 •
2016
Experimental validation of enhancer activity is best approached by loss-of-function analysis. Presented here is an efficient protocol that uses CRISPR/Cas9 mediated deletion to study allele-specific regulation of gene transcription in F1 ES cells which contain a hybrid genome (Mus musculus129 x Mus castaneus).
FAQs
Researchers establish a dose-response relationship by exposing cultured cells to defined concentrations of a compound and measuring the resulting cellular change. Comparing response strength across doses helps indicate how strongly the compound affects a cell function and can support interpretation of pharmacological activity. This relationship also helps identify concentrations associated with unwanted effects.
Different readouts answer different pharmacological questions. Viability indicates whether cells remain alive, whereas proliferation reflects changes in cell growth. Receptor activation, intracellular signaling, and ion transport provide more specific evidence of cellular responses, while gene-expression changes can show altered cellular programs. Selecting the readout therefore connects a compound exposure to a particular functional outcome.
Cell Function Studies can help separate desired activity from cellular harm by examining both disease-related responses and adverse effects in the same experimental framework. A compound may alter a relevant receptor, signaling pathway, transport process, or gene-expression pattern, but researchers must also determine whether the exposure compromises viability. This comparison informs assessment of selective action.
Researchers begin with cultured cells, expose them to a defined compound, and measure a selected response. The endpoint may be viability, proliferation, receptor activation, intracellular signaling, ion transport, or gene expression. They then compare responses across compound exposure conditions to examine dose dependence and interpret possible cellular targets, mechanisms of action, or adverse effects.
They are useful at an early stage, before investigations advance to more complex models. In cultured cells, researchers can first examine whether a compound changes a relevant cellular function, whether responses vary with dose, and whether toxicity-related effects appear. These results provide an initial basis for prioritizing compounds and clarifying questions for subsequent pharmacological evaluation.
In drug discovery, these studies connect compound exposure with measurable cellular effects, helping reveal cellular targets and mechanisms of action. In safety assessment, the same approach can identify adverse effects and concentrations linked to harmful responses. The resulting information supports development of therapies intended to modify disease-related cellular processes selectively before evaluation in more complex settings.