Die Autoren bedanken sich Karen Hilburn für einen ausgezeichneten technischen Support. Dieses Projekt wurde von der National Research Initiative des USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (Preis # 2004-35604-14327) unterstützt. Matias Pasquali wird von Branco Weiss Fellowship unterstützt. Die US-Weizen und Gerste Scab Initiative ist auch für die fortgesetzte Unterstützung der Forschung anerkannt.

<ol><li> Carrot-Agar (Klittich und Leslie, 1988) wurde in 9-cm Durchmesser Petrischalen vorbereitet. </li><li> A 2 mm Kantenlänge von Agar mit frischem Mycel auf Kartoffel-Dextrose-Agar gewachsen war, die Mitte jeder Petrischale aufgebracht. </li><li> Die Kulturen wurden bei 25 ° C gezüchtet und eine 12-h Photoperiode für 96 Stunden. </li><li> Ein ml wässrige 2,5% Tween 60 wurde auf die Oberfläche der Kultur (Trail und Common, 2000) aufgetragen und über die Kultur mit einem Kunststoff-Stab, durch leichtes Drücken. </li><li> Perithecien Dreharbeiten Ascosporen entwickelt 7-10 Tage nach dieser Induktionstherapie, wenn in einer Umgebung mit hoher Feuchtigkeit bei 25 ° C gehalten mit der gleichen Photoperiode. </li><li> Spore Kollektion zeichnet sich durch die Änderung der Petrischale Deckel durchgeführt, so dass Perithecien für eine begrenzte Zeit (zB 12 Stunden) in der Dunkelheit zu schießen. </li><li> Sterilem Wasser auf den Deckel gegeben, die Aussetzung Ascosporen durch vorsichtiges Bewegen Wasser auf der Oberfläche. </li><li> Ascosporen werden in sterile Falcon-Röhrchen gesammelt, gewaschen und zur weiteren Analyse. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Beyer, M., Verreet, J. A., Francl, L., Shaner, G., Bergstrom, G., Gilbert, J., Pedersen, W., Dill-Macky, R., Sweets, L., Corwin, B., Jin, Y., Gallenberg, D., Wiersma, J., Goswami, R. S., Kistler, H. C., Klittich, C. J. R., Leslie, J. F., Trail, F., Common, R., Tschantz, A. T., Horst, R. L., Nelson, P. E., Tschanz, A. T., Horst, R. K., Nelson, P. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Germination+of+Gibberella+zeae+ascospores+as+affected+by+age+of+spores+after+discharge+and+environmental+factors.">Germination of Gibberella zeae ascospores as affected by age of spores after discharge and environmental factors.</a> Genetics. 118, 417-2013 (2005).</li></ol>

Das Protokoll hier vorgestellte auf früheren Verfahren für perithecial Produktion für Fusarium spp verwendet wird. (Klittich und Leslie, 1988; Trail und Common, 2000). Die Standardisierung der Verfahren, mit dem große Mengen von Ascosporen (ausreichend für Microarray-Analyse) generiert wurden war wesentlich für die Reproduzierbarkeit der Experimente. Es wurde berichtet, dass Umweltfaktoren, Alter und Substrat Unterschiede kann die biologische Charakter der Ascosporen (Beyer und Verreet, 2005) zu ändern. Daher ist die Verwendung von Video kann Highlight kleinen Details in den Weg Sporen produziert und gesammelt werden, die Reproduzierbarkeit zu erleichtern sollten. Insbesondere das Video des Verfahrens sollte das Niveau der Standardisierung von Labor zu Labor und erleichtern den Vergleich der gesamten Genoms Transkription Studien, die Ascosporen Produktion erfordern. Die Menge an RNA, die für Experiment Verfahren ist relativ hoch, so eine große Anzahl von Petrischale synchron verarbeitet werden sollten. Video ist ein besonders geeignetes Werkzeug, wenn es notwendig, ganze Genom transkriptionelle Studien zu neuen biologischen Material zu implementieren ist, einen Standard für zukünftige Experimente.

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<td>Petri dish 9 cm Diameter</td>
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<td>Tween 60 (20%)</td>
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<td>Carrot agar (20% w/v organic carrots and 1.5% w/v agar) </td>
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gibberella zeae ascospore production and collection for microarray experiments.

Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (Teleomorph Gibberella zeae) ist eine Pflanzenart Erreger Schorf Krankheit an Weizen und Gerste, die Ernteerträge und Kornqualität reduziert. F. graminearum verursacht auch Stiel und Ohr verrottet von Mais und ist ein Hersteller von Mykotoxinen, wie die Trichothecene, dass das Getreide verunreinigen und sind schädlich für Mensch und Vieh (Goswami und Kistler, 2004). Der Pilz produziert zwei Arten von Sporen. Ascosporen werden die Ableger, die sich aus der sexuellen Fortpflanzung, die Hauptquelle der primären Infektion. Diese Sporen werden gewaltsam aus reifen Perithecien entladen und verteilt durch den Wind (Francl et al 1999). Sekundäre Infektionen werden vor allem durch Makrokonidien die durch ungeschlechtliche bedeutet auf der Pflanze produziert werden verursacht. Zur Untersuchung der Entwicklungsprozesse von Ascosporen in diesem Pilz wurde ein Verfahren für ihre Sammlung in großen Mengen unter sterilen Bedingungen erforderlich. Unser Protokoll wurde gefilmt, um ein Höchstmaß an Informationen für das Verständnis und die Reproduzierbarkeit zu erzeugen; entscheidende Aspekte, wenn sie voll Genom Genexpressionsprofile generiert und interpretiert werden. Insbesondere sind die Variabilität der Ascosporen Keimung und die biologische Aktivität abhängig von der vorherigen Manipulation des Materials. Die Verwendung von Video zu dokumentieren jeden Schritt in Ascosporen Produktion wird vorgeschlagen, um die Standardisierung zu erhöhen, die Einhaltung der immer strengeren Anforderungen für die Microarray-Analyse. Das Verfahren erfordert nur Standard-Laborgeräte. Schritte gezeigt, um Verunreinigung und für die Zeitsynchronisation von Ascosporen zu verhindern.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Gibberella zeae Ascospore Production and Collection for Microarray Experiments. at JoVE.com

Gibberella zeae Ascospore Production and Collection for Microarray Experiments.

Zur Untersuchung der Entwicklungsprozesse von Ascosporen in Gibberella zeae, ein Verfahren für die Sammlung unter sterilen Bedingungen gefilmt wird, um ein Höchstmaß an Informationen für die Protokoll-Beschreibung zu generieren. Dies sollte die Reproduzierbarkeit der Experimente, ein entscheidender Aspekt, wenn sie voll Genom Expressionsprofil Tests durchgeführt werden.

Gibberella zeae Ascosporen Produktion und Sammlung für Microarray-Experimente.

Fusarium graminearum Schwabe (teleomorph Gibberella zeae) is a plant pathogen causing scab disease on wheat and barley that reduces crop yield and grain ...

gibberella-zeae-ascospore-production-collection-for-microarray

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

14.2K Aufrufe.  USDA. Zur Untersuchung der Entwicklungsprozesse von Ascosporen in Gibberella zeae, ein Verfahren für die Sammlung unter sterilen Bedingungen gefilmt wird, um ein Höchstmaß an Informationen für die Protokoll-Beschreibung zu generieren. Dies sollte die Reproduzierbarkeit der Experimente, ein entscheidender Aspekt, wenn sie voll Genom Expressionsprofil Tests durchgeführt werden.

Serie: Gibberella zeae Ascospore Production and Collection for Microarray Experiments.

Preparation of Artificial Bilayers for Electrophysiology Experiments

Planar lipid bilayers, also called artificial lipid bilayers, allow you to study ion-conducting channels in a well-defined environment. These bilayers can be used for many different studies, such as the characterization of membrane-active peptides, the reconstitution of ion channels or investigations on how changes in lipid bilayer properties alter the function of bilayer-spanning channels.  Here, we show how to form a planar bilayer and how to isolate small patches from the bilayer, and in a second video  will also demonstrate a procedure for using gramicidin channels to determine changes in lipid bilayer elastic properties.   We also demonstrate the individual steps needed to prepare the bilayer chamber, the electrodes and how to test that the bilayer is suitable for single-channel measurements.

Planar lipid bilayers, also called artificial lipid bilayers, allow you to study ion-conducting channels in a well-defined environment. Here, we demonstrate the individual steps needed to prepare the bilayer chamber, the electrodes and how to test that the bilayer is suitable for single-channel measurements.

Herstellung künstlicher Doppelschichten für Elektrophysiologie Experimente

Planar lipid bilayers, also called artificial lipid bilayers, allow you to study ion-conducting channels in a well-defined environment. These bilayers can ...

Forschung

Biologie

Seawater Sampling and Collection

This video documents methods for collecting coastal marine water samples and processing them for various downstream applications including biomass concentration, nucleic acid purification, cell abundance, nutrient and trace gas analyses. For today's demonstration samples were collected from the deck of the HMS John Strickland operating in Saanich Inlet. An A-frame derrick, with a multi-purpose winch and cable system, is used in combination with Niskin or Go-Flo water sampling bottles. Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) sensors are also used to sample the underlying water mass. To minimize outgassing, trace gas samples are collected first.  Then, nutrients, water chemistry, and cell counts are determined. Finally, waters are collected for biomass filtration. The set-up and collection time for a single cast is ~1.5 hours at a maximum depth of 215 meters. Therefore, a total of 6 hours is generally needed to complete the collection series described here.

This video documents methods for collecting coastal marine water samples and processing them for various downstream applications including biomass concentration, nucleic acid purification, cell abundance, nutrient and trace gas analyses.

Meerwasser Probenahme und Sammlung

This video documents methods for collecting coastal marine water samples and processing them for various downstream applications including biomass ...

Microarray Analysis for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this protocol, gene expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is changed after exposure to oxidative stress induced by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidizing agent. In the experiment, yeast is grown for 48 hours in 1/2X YPD broth containing 3X glucose. The culture is split into a control and treated group. The experiment culture is treated with 0.5 mM H2O2 in Hanks Buffered Saline (HBSS) for 1 hour. The control culture is treated with HBSS only. Total RNA is extracted from both cultures and is converted to a biotin-labeled cRNA product through a multistep process. The final synthesis product is taken back to the UVM Microarray Core Facility and hybridized to the Affymetrix yeast GeneChips. The resulting gene expression data are uploaded into bioinformatics data analysis software.

Microarray Analysis for Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this protocol, gene expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is changed after exposure to oxidative stress induced by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an oxidizing agent.

Microarray-Analyse für Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em

In this protocol, gene expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is changed after exposure to oxidative stress induced by the addition of hydrogen ...

DNA Extraction from Paraffin Embedded Material for Genetic and Epigenetic Analyses

Disease development and progression are characterized by frequent genetic and epigenetic aberrations including chromosomal rearrangements, copy number gains and losses and DNA methylation. Advances in high-throughput, genome-wide profiling technologies, such as microarrays, have significantly improved our ability to identify and detect these specific alterations. However as technology continues to improve, a limiting factor remains sample quality and availability. Furthermore, follow-up clinical information and disease outcome are often collected years after the initial specimen collection. Specimens, typically formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE), are stored in hospital archives for years to decades. DNA can be efficiently and effectively recovered from paraffin-embedded specimens if the appropriate method of extraction is applied. High quality DNA extracted from properly preserved and stored specimens can support quantitative assays for comparisons of normal and diseased tissues and generation of genetic and epigenetic signatures 1. To extract DNA from paraffin-embedded samples, tissue cores or microdissected tissue are subjected to xylene treatment, which dissolves the paraffin from the tissue, and then rehydrated using a series of ethanol washes. Proteins and harmful enzymes such as nucleases are subsequently digested by proteinase K. The addition of lysis buffer, which contains denaturing agents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), facilitates digestion 2. Nucleic acids are purified from the tissue lysate using buffer-saturated phenol and high speed centrifugation which generates a biphasic solution. DNA and RNA remain in the upper aqueous phase, while proteins, lipids and polysaccharides are sequestered in the inter- and organic-phases respectively. Retention of the aqueous phase and repeated phenol extractions generates a clean sample. Following phenol extractions, RNase A is added to eliminate contaminating RNA. Additional phenol extractions following incubation with RNase A are used to remove any remaining enzyme. The addition of sodium acetate and isopropanol precipitates DNA, and high speed centrifugation is used to pellet the DNA and facilitate isopropanol removal. Excess salts carried over from precipitation can interfere with subsequent enzymatic assays, but can be removed from the DNA by washing with 70% ethanol, followed by centrifugation to re-pellet the DNA 3. DNA is re-suspended in distilled water or the buffer of choice, quantified and stored at -20&deg;C. Purified DNA can subsequently be used in downstream applications which include, but are not limited to, PCR, array comparative genomic hybridization 4 (array CGH), methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and sequencing, allowing for an integrative analysis of tissue/tumor samples.

This video demonstrates the protocol for DNA extraction from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material. This is a multi-day procedure in which tissue sections are deparaffinized with xylene, rehydrated with ethanol and treated with proteinase K to purify and isolate DNA for subsequent gene-specific or genome-wide analysis.

DNA-Extraktion aus in Paraffin eingebettete Material für genetische und epigenetische Analysen

Disease development and progression are characterized by frequent genetic and epigenetic aberrations including chromosomal rearrangements, copy number ...

Performing Custom MicroRNA Microarray Experiments

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of &tilde; 22 nucleotides (nt) long RNA molecules that are widely expressed in eukaryotes 1. Complex genomes encode at least hundreds of miRNAs, which primarily inhibit the expression of a vast number of target genes post-transcriptionally 2, 3. miRNAs control a broad range of biological processes 1. In addition, altered miRNA expression has been associated with human diseases such as cancers, and miRNAs may serve as biomarkers for diseases and prognosis 4, 5. It is important, therefore, to understand the expression and functions of miRNAs under many different conditions.
Three major approaches have been employed to profile miRNA expression: real-time PCR, microarray, and deep sequencing. The technique of miRNA microarray has the advantage of being high-throughput, generally less expensive, and most of the experimental and analysis steps can be carried out in a molecular biology laboratory at most universities, medical schools and associated hospitals. Here, we describe a method for performing custom miRNA microarray experiments. A miRNA probe set will be printed on glass slides to produce miRNA microarrays. RNA is isolated using a method or reagent that preserves small RNA species, and then labeled with a fluorescence dye. As a control, reference DNA oligonucleotides corresponding to a subset of miRNAs are also labeled with a different fluorescence dye. The reference DNA will serve to demonstrate the quality of the slide and hybridization and will also be used for data normalization. The RNA and DNA are mixed and hybridized to a microarray slide containing probes for most of the miRNAs in the database. After washing, the slide is scanned to obtain images, and intensities of the individual spots quantified. These raw signals will be further processed and analyzed as the expression data of the corresponding miRNAs. Microarray slides can be stripped and regenerated to reduce the cost of microarrays and to enhance the consistency of microarray experiments. The same principles and procedures are applicable to other types of custom microarray experiments.

A simple procedure of performing custom microRNA microarray experiments is described. The steps include isolating RNA, labeling RNA and reference DNA, hybridizing the samples to microarrays, scanning the microarrays, quantifying and analyzing hybridization signals.

Performing Benutzerdefinierte MicroRNA Microarray-Experimenten

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of &tilde; 22 nucleotides (nt) long RNA molecules that are widely expressed in eukaryotes 1.  Complex genomes encode ...

Sexual Development and Ascospore Discharge in Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium graminearum has become a model system for studies in development and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi. F. graminearum most easily produces fruiting bodies, called perithecia, on carrot agar. Perithecia contain numerous tissue types, produced at specific stages of perithecium development. These include (in order of appearance) formation of the perithecium initials (which give rise to the ascogenous hyphae), the outer wall, paraphyses (sterile mycelia which occupy the center of the perithecium until the asci develop), the asci, and the ascospores within the asci14. The development of each of these tissues is separated by approximately 24 hours and has been the basis of transcriptomic studies during sexual development12,8. Refer to Hallen et al. (2007) for a more thorough description of development, including photographs of each stage. Here, we present the methods for generating and harvesting synchronously developing lawns of perithecia for temporal studies of gene regulation, development, and physiological processes. Although these methods are written specifically to be used with F. graminearum, the techniques can be used for a variety of other fungi, provided that fruiting can be induced in culture and there is some synchrony to development. We have recently adapted this protocol to study the sexual development of F. verticillioides. Although individual perithecia must be hand picked in this species, because a lawn of developing perithecia could not be induced, the process worked well for studying development (Sikhakolli and Trail, unpublished).
The most important function of fungal fruiting bodies is the dispersal of spores. In many of the species of Ascomycota (ascus producing fungi), spores are shot from the ascus, due to the generation of turgor pressure within the ascus, driving ejection of spores (and epiplasmic fluid) through the pore in the ascus tip2,7. Our studies of forcible ascospore discharge have resulted in development of a "spore discharge assay", which we use to screen for mutations in the process. Here we present the details of this assay.
F. graminearum is homothallic, and thus can form fruiting bodies in the absence of a compatible partner. The advantage of homothallism is that crossing is not necessary to generate offspring homozygous for a particular trait, a facet that has facilitated the study of sexual development in this species14,7. However, heterothallic strains have been generated that can be used for crossing5,9. It is also possible to cross homothallic strains to obtain mutants for several genes in one strain1. This is done by coinoculating one Petri dish with 2 strains. Along the meeting point, the majority of perithecia will be recombinant (provided a mutation in one of the parent strains does not inhibit outcrossing). As perithecia age, they exude ascospores en masse instead of forcibly discharging them. The resulting spore exudate (called a cirrhus) sits at the tip of the perithecium and can easily be removed for recovery of individual spores. Here we present a protocol to facilitate the identification of recombinant perithecia and the recovery of recombinant progeny.

Sexual Development and Ascospore Discharge in Fusarium graminearum

Sexual crosses and isolation of recombinant progeny are important research tools for the filamentous fungus, Fusarium graminearum, The techniques necessary successfully carry out these processes are presented.

Sexuelle Entwicklung und Ascosporenausschleuderung in Fusarium graminearum</em

Fusarium graminearum has become a model system for studies in development and pathogenicity of filamentous fungi. F. graminearum most easily produces ...

Milk Collection Methods for Mice and Reeves' Muntjac Deer

Animal models are commonly used throughout research laboratories to accomplish what would normally be considered impractical in a pathogen&#8217;s native host. Milk collection from animals allows scientists the opportunity to study many aspects of reproduction including vertical transmission, passive immunity, mammary gland biology, and lactation. Obtaining adequate volumes of milk for these studies is a challenging task, especially from small animal models. Here we illustrate an inexpensive and facile method for milk collection in mice and Reeves&#8217; muntjac deer that does not require specialized equipment or extensive training. This particular method requires two researchers: one to express the milk and to stabilize the animal, and one to collect the milk in an appropriate container from either a Muntjac or mouse model. The mouse model also requires the use of a P-200 pipetman and corresponding pipette tips. While this method is low cost and relatively easy to perform, researchers should be advised that anesthetizing the animal is required for optimal milk collection.

Milk collection from animal models facilitates various research avenues: understanding passive immunity, identifying pathogens responsible for vertical transmission and, through the use of transgenic mice, even commercial production of proteins found in human breast milk. Here we illustrate a simple method for milk collection in mice and Reeves&#8217; muntjac deer.

Milchauffangmethoden für Mäuse und Reeves Muntjac Deer

Animal models are commonly used throughout research laboratories to accomplish what would normally be considered impractical in a pathogen&#8217;s native ...

Repeated Blood Collection for Blood Tests in Adult Zebrafish

Repeated blood collection is one of the most common techniques performed on laboratory animals. However, a non-lethal protocol for blood collection from zebrafish has not been established. The previous methods for blood collection from zebrafish are lethal, such as lateral incision, decapitation and tail ablation. Thus we have developed a novel &#8220;repeated&#8221; blood collection method, and present here a detailed protocol outlining this procedure. This method is minimally invasive and results in a very low mortality rate (2.3%) for zebrafish, thus enabling repeated blood sampling from the same individual. The maximum volume of blood sampling is dependent on body weight of the fish. The volume for repeated blood sampling at intervals should be&#160;&#8804;0.4% of body weight every week or &#8804;1% every 2 weeks, which were evaluated by measurements of blood hemoglobin. Additionally, hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, plasma triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol levels in male and female adult zebrafish were measured. We also applied this method to investigate the dysregulation of glucose metabolism in diet-induced obesity. This blood collection method will allow many applications, including glucose and lipid metabolism and hematological studies, which will increase the use of zebrafish as a human disease model organism.

Repeated blood sampling is necessary and important in animal research. We developed a novel, non-lethal and reliable method for repeated blood collection from adult zebrafish, and applied this method to the study of blood biochemistry, including glucose metabolism.

Wiederholte Blutentnahme für Bluttests in Adult Zebrafisch

Repeated blood collection is one of the most common techniques performed on laboratory animals. However, a non-lethal protocol for blood collection from ...

A Multi-hole Cryovial Eliminates Freezing Artifacts when Muscle Tissues are Directly Immersed in Liquid Nitrogen

Studies on skeletal muscle physiology face the technical challenge of appropriately processing the specimens to obtain sections with clearly visible cytoplasmic compartments. Another hurdle is the tight apposition of myofibers to the surrounding tissues. Because the process of tissue fixation and paraffin embedding leads to the shrinkage of muscle fibers, freezing is an optimal means of hardening muscle tissue for sectioning. However, a commonly encountered issue, the formation of ice crystals, occurs during the preparation of frozen sections because of the high water content of muscle. The protocol presented here first describes a simple and efficient method for properly freezing muscle tissues by immersing them in liquid nitrogen. The problem with using liquid nitrogen alone is that it causes the formation of a nitrogen gas barrier next to the tissue, which acts as an insulator and inhibits the cooling of the tissues. To avoid this "vapor blanket" effect, a new cryovial was designed to increase the speed of liquid flow around the tissue surface. This was achieved by punching a total of 14 inlet holes in the wall of the vial. According to bubble dynamics, a higher rate of liquid flow results in smaller bubbles and fewer chances to form a gas barrier. When liquid nitrogen flows into the cryovial through the inlet holes, the flow velocity around the tissue is fast enough to eliminate the gas barrier. Compared to the method of freezing muscle tissues using pre-chilled isopentane, this protocol is simpler and more efficient and can be used to freeze muscle in a throughput manner. Furthermore, this method is optimal for institutions that do not have access to isopentane, which is extremely flammable at room temperature.

This protocol describes a procedure to freeze muscle tissues by plunging them directly into liquid nitrogen. This protocol also highlights a new cryovial that can avoid the &#34;blanket effect&#34; of nitrogen gas when liquid nitrogen contacts the tissue surface of a specimen.

Ein Multi-Loch Cryovial Eliminiert Einfrieren Artefakte, wenn Muskelgewebe wird in flüssigem Stickstoff direkt tauchend

Studies on skeletal muscle physiology face the technical challenge of appropriately processing the specimens to obtain sections with clearly visible ...

Gamete Collection and In Vitro Fertilization of Astyanax mexicanus

Astyanax mexicanus is emerging as a model organism for a variety of research fields in biological science. Part of the recent success of this teleost fish species is that it possesses interfertile cave and river-dwelling populations. This enables the genetic mapping of heritable traits that were fixed during adaptation to the different environments of these populations. While this species can be maintained and bred in the lab, it is challenging to both obtain embryos during the daytime and create hybrid embryos between strains. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has been used with a variety of different model organisms to successfully and repeatedly breed animals in the lab. In this protocol, we show how, by acclimatizing A. mexicanus to different light cycles coupled with changes in water temperature, we can shift breeding cycles to a chosen time of the day. Subsequently, we show how to identify suitable parental fish, collect healthy gametes from males and females, and produce viable offspring using IVF. This enables related procedures such as the injection of genetic constructs or developmental analysis to occur during normal working hours. Furthermore, this technique can be used to create hybrids between the cave and surface-dwelling populations, and thereby enable the study of the genetic basis of phenotypic adaptations to different environments.

Gamete Collection and In Vitro Fertilization of Astyanax mexicanus

In vitro fertilization is a commonly used technique with a variety of model organisms to maintain lab populations and produce synchronized embryos for downstream applications. Here, we present a protocol that implements this technique for different populations of the Mexican tetra fish, Astyanax mexicanus.

Gamete Collection und In-Vitro-Fertilisation von Astyanax mexicanus

Astyanax mexicanus is emerging as a model organism for a variety of research fields in biological science. Part of the recent success of this teleost fish ...