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Brennan LD, Roland T, Morton DG, Fellman SM, Chung S, Soltani M, Kevek JW, McEuen PM, Kemphues KJ, Wang MD. Small molecule injection into single-cell C. elegans embryos via carbon-reinforced nanopipettes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75712. [PMID: 24086620 PMCID: PMC3784451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of chemical inhibitors into living cells at specific times in development is a useful method for investigating the roles of specific proteins or cytoskeletal components in developmental processes. Some embryos, such as those of Caenorhabditis elegans, however, possess a tough eggshell that makes introducing drugs and other molecules into embryonic cells challenging. We have developed a procedure using carbon-reinforced nanopipettes (CRNPs) to deliver molecules into C. elegans embryos with high temporal control. The use of CRNPs allows for cellular manipulation to occur just subsequent to meiosis II with minimal damage to the embryo. We have used our technique to replicate classical experiments using latrunculin A to inhibit microfilaments and assess its effects on early polarity establishment. Our injections of latrunculin A confirm the necessity of microfilaments in establishing anterior-posterior polarity at this early stage, even when microtubules remain intact. Further, we find that latrunculin A treatment does not prevent association of PAR-2 or PAR-6 with the cell cortex. Our experiments demonstrate the application of carbon-reinforced nanopipettes to the study of one temporally-confined developmental event. The use of CRNPs to introduce molecules into the embryo should be applicable to investigations at later developmental stages as well as other cells with tough outer coverings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy D. Brennan
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Thibault Roland
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Diane G. Morton
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Shanna M. Fellman
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - SueYeon Chung
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Soltani
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Joshua W. Kevek
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul M. McEuen
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Kenneth J. Kemphues
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MDW); (KJK)
| | - Michelle D. Wang
- Department of Physics - Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail: (MDW); (KJK)
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