科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
LacZ is widely used as a reporter in studies of gene expression patterns. beta-galactosidase, the product of LacZ gene, is usually detected by X-gal/FeCN staining. In X-gal/FeCN staining, beta-galactosidase catalyzes X-gal to produce blue precipitates, which indicate the expression patterns of the gene of interest. A newer LacZ detection method using S-gal/TNBT is more sensitive but plagued by high background. Here, we describe an improved procedure that combines advantageous steps from the two methods. By comparing with X-gal/FeCN and S-gal/TNBT methods in detecting the expression patterns of miR-322/503 and miR-451 at a series of developmental stages, the improved method showed higher sensitivity and lower background. Thus, the improved method could be an alternative way of beta-galactosidase staining in low gene expression situations.
