A fast and sensitive alternative for beta-galactosidase detection in mouse embryos

作者:Sundararajan Sakthi; Wakamiya Maki; Behringer Richard R; Rivera Perez Jaime A
来源:Development, 2012, 139(23): 4484-4490.
DOI:10.1242/dev.078790

摘要

The bacterial IacZ gene is widely used as a reporter in a myriad of mouse transgenic experiments beta-Galactosidase, encoded by IacZ, is usually detected using X-gal in combination with ferric and ferrous ions. This assay produces a blue indole precipitate that is easy to detect visually. Here, we show that Salmon-gal in combination with tetrazolium salts provides a more sensitive and faster staining reaction than the traditional beta-galactosidase assay in mouse embryos. Using a combination of Salmon-gal and tetranitroblue tetrazolium, we were able to visualize the activity of beta-galactosidase in embryos at stages when the customary X-gal reaction failed to detect staining. Our studies provide an enhanced alternative for beta-galactosidase detection in expression and cell fate studies that use lacZ-based transgenic mouse lines.

  • 出版日期2012-12-1