LentiBrite GFP-p62 Lentiviral Biosensor

Read our application note in Nature Methods!
http://www.nature.com/app_notes/nmeth/2012/121007/pdf/an8620.pdf
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Learn more about the advantages of our LentiBrite Lentiviral Biosensors! Click Here

Biosensors can be used to detect the presence/absence of a particular protein as well as the subcellular location of that protein within the live state of a cell. Fluorescent tags are often desired as a means to visualize the protein of interest within a cell by either fluorescent microscopy or time-lapse video capture. Visualizing live cells without disruption allows researchers to observe cellular conditions in real time.

Lentiviral vector systems are a popular research tool used to introduce gene products into cells. Lentiviral transfection has advantages over non-viral methods such as chemical-based transfection including higher-efficiency transfection of dividing and non-dividing cells, long-term stable expression of the transgene, and low immunogenicity.

EMD Millipore is introducing LentiBrite Lentiviral Biosensors, a new suite of pre-packaged lentiviral particles encoding important and foundational proteins of autophagy, apoptosis, and cell structure for visualization under different cell/disease states in live cell and in vitro analysis.

• Pre-packaged, fluorescently-tagged with GFP & RFP
• Higher efficiency transfection as compared to traditional chemical-based and other non-viral-based transfection methods
• Ability to transfect dividing, non-dividing, and difficult-to-transfect cell types, such as primary cells or stem cells
• Non-disruptive towards cellular function

EMD Millipore’s LentiBrite GFP-p62 lentiviral particles provide bright fluorescence and precise localization to enable live-cell analysis of autophagy in difficult-to-transfect cell types.

Autophagy, a degradative pathway induced in cells under stress, plays both protective and deleterious roles in many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and infections. The adaptor protein p62 targets protein aggregates to the autophagosome for degradation via its polyubiquitin-binding domain, and also functions as a scaffold for signaling proteins such as atypical PKCs and mTORC1. In many cell types, p62 ordinarily exists as puncta or speckles, which increase in number and size upon blockade of autophagic flux with lysosome inhibitors. Upon initiation of autophagy, the p62-cargo protein complex binds to LC3 on the autophagosome surface, which results in degradation of this complex. DNA constructs encoding fluorescent proteins fused to p62 are often introduced into cells for monitoring aggregate formation by fluorescence microscopy. EMD Millipore’s LentiBrite GFP-p62 lentiviral particles provide bright fluorescence and precise localization to enable live-cell analysis of autophagy in difficult-to-transfect cell types.

Fluorescence Microscopy
Imaging:
(See Figure 1 in datasheet)
Primary human mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSC) were plated in a chamber slide and transduced with lentiviral particles at an MOI of 40 for 24 hours. After media replacement and 24 hours further incubation, cells were either left in complete media or incubated for 4 hours in EBSS containing a lysosome inhibitor, to induce autophagsome formation and inhibit lysosomal degradation. Cells were fixed with formaldehyde, mounted and imaged by oil immersion wide-field fluorescence microscopy.
The GFP-p62 displays a diffuse cytosolic distribution in fed cells, and a punctate distribution in starved autophagic cells.


Immunocytochemistry Comparison:
(See Figure 2 in datasheet)
Similar to Figure 1 (see datasheet), U2OS cells were plated in a chamber slide and transduced with GFP-p62 lentiviral particles at an MOI of 40 for 24 hours. After 24 hours, media was replaced and cells were then further incubated for 24 hours. The cells were then fixed and stained with a polyclonal antibody against p62 (Cat. No. MABC32), followed by a Cy3-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG. Distribution of the GFP-p62 (green) is similar to that detected by immunocytochemical staining (red).

Hard-to-transfect Cell Types:
(See Figure 3 in datasheet)
Primary cell type HUVEC were plated in a chamber slide and transduced with lentiviral particles at an MOI of 40 for 24 hours. Subsequent treatments for cells left in complete media or cells incubated in EBSS with lysosome inhibitor, were performed as in Figures 1A and 1B (see datasheet)

Time-lapse Imaging:
(See Figure 5 in datasheet and video online)
U2OS cells were plated in coverglass chamber slides and transduced with GFP-p62 lentiviral particles as in Figure 1 (see datasheet). Images were collected every 20 seconds for a total of 32 min. Shown here are 3 sequential frames. The GFP-p62 displays a diffuse cytosolic distribution in fed cells, and a punctate distribution in starved autophagic cells.

For optimal fluorescent visualization, it is recommended to analyze the target expression level within 24-48 hrs after transfection/infection for optimal live cell analysis, as fluorescent intensity may dim over time, especially in difficult-to-transfect cell lines. Infected cells may be frozen down after successful transfection/infection and thawed in culture to retain positive fluorescent expression beyond 24-48 hrs. Length and intensity of fluorescent expression varies between cell lines. Higher MOIs may be required for difficult-to-transfect cell lines.

Research Category
Apoptosis & Cancer

Neuroscience

Research Sub Category
Apoptosis - Additional

Neurodegenerative Diseases

TagGFP2-p62 Lentivirus:
One vial containing 25 µL of lentiviral particles at a minimum of 3 x 10E8 infectious units (IFU) per mL.
For lot-specific titer information, please see lot specific “Viral Titer” in the product specifications of the datasheet.


Promoter
EF-1 (Elongation Factor-1)


Multiplicty of Infection (MOI)
MOI = Ratio of # of infectious lentiviral particles (IFU) to # of cells being infected.
Typical MOI values for high transduction efficiency and signal intensity are in the range of 20-40. For this target, some cell types may require lower MOIs (e.g., HT-1080, HeLa, U2OS, human mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSC)), while others may require higher MOIs (e.g., human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)).
NOTE: MOI should be titrated and optimized by the end user for each cell type and lentiviral target to achieve desired transduction efficiency and signal intensity.

Evaluated by transduction of HT-1080 cells and fluorescent imaging performed for assessment of transduction efficiency.

PEG precipitation

Storage and Handling
Lentivirus is stable for at least 4 months from date of receipt when stored at -80°C. After first thaw, place immediately on ice and freeze in working aliquots at -80°C. Frozen aliquots may be stored for at least 2 months. Further freeze/thaws may result in decreased virus titer and transduction efficiency.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE
Replication-defective lentiviral vectors, such as the 3rd Generation vector provided in this product, are not known to cause any diseases in humans or animals. However, lentiviruses can integrate into the host cell genome and thus pose some risk of insertional mutagenesis. Material is a Risk Group 2 and should be handled under BSL2 controls. A detailed discussion of biosafety of lentiviral vectors is provided in Pauwels, K. et al. (2009). State-of-the-art lentiviral vectors for research use: Risk assessment and biosafety recommendations. Curr. Gene Ther. 9: 459-474.

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