CSHL Press News

Electrophoresis of RNA, Avian Imaging featured in June’s Cold Spring Harbor Protocols

06/01/2010

COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., June 1, 2010) – Gel electrophoresis is one of the most important and frequently used techniques in RNA analysis. Electrophoresis is used for RNA detection, quantification, purification by size and quality assessment. Gels are involved in a wide variety of methods including northern blotting, primer extension, footprinting and analyzing processing reactions. The two most common types of gels are polyacrylamide and agarose. Polyacrylamide gels are used in most applications and are appropriate for RNAs smaller than approximately 600 nucleotides (agarose gels are preferred for larger RNAs). Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of RNA describes how to prepare, load and run polyacrylamide gels for RNA analysis. The article is featured in the June issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc6_10.dtl) and is freely available on the journal's website (cshprotocols.cshlp.org/cgi/content/full/2010/6/pdb.prot5444). It is part of a suite of basic RNA protocols included in this month's issue that provide an early preview of the forthcoming RNA: A Laboratory Manual due later this year from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (www.cshlpress.com/link/rnalabp.htm).

The rapid pace of technological progress in biological imaging has provided great insight into the processes of embryonic development. But for higher organisms with opaque eggs or internal development, optical access to the embryo is limited. While various embryonic culture methods are available, vertebrate development is best studied in an intact embryo model, one in which the natural environment has not been disrupted. In the June issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc6_10.dtl), Paul Kulesa and colleagues from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (www.stowers-institute.org/labs/KulesaLab.asp) present In Ovo Live Imaging of Avian Embryos, a detailed set of instructions for time-lapse imaging of fluorescently labeled cells within a living avian embryo. During the procedure, a hole is made in the shell, and a Teflon membrane that is oxygen-permeable and liquid-impermeable is used to provide a window for visualization of the embryo via confocal or two-photon microscopy. Imaging can take place for up to five days without dehydration or degradation of the normal developmental environment. As one of June's featured articles, the protocol is freely available on the journal's website (http://cshprotocols.cshlp.org/cgi/content/full/2010/6/pdb.prot5446).

# # #

About Cold Spring Harbor Protocols:
Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org) is a monthly peer-reviewed journal of methods used in a wide range of biology laboratories. It is structured to be highly interactive, with each protocol cross-linked to related methods, descriptive information panels, and illustrative material to maximize the total information available to investigators. Each protocol is clearly presented and designed for easy use at the bench—complete with reagents, equipment, and recipe lists. Life science researchers can access the entire collection via institutional site licenses, and can add their suggestions and comments to further refine the techniques.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press:
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located on Long Island, New York. Since 1933, it has furthered the advance and spread of scientific knowledge in all areas of genetics and molecular biology, including cancer biology, plant science, bioinformatics, and neurobiology. It is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit www.cshlpress.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For content and submission information:
David Crotty ([email protected]; 516-422-4007), Executive Editor, Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
For access, subscription, and free trial information:
Stephanie Novara ([email protected]; 516-422-4159), Journals Marketing Manager, CSHL Press



Return to CSHL Press News index