{"title":"Combining Techniques to Answer Molecular Questions","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/9780470089941.etfm02s9","DOIUrl":"10.1002/9780470089941.etfm02s9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This manual is a collection of basic techniques central to the study of nucleic acids, proteins, and whole-cell/subcellular structures. The following is an overview of how the basic techniques described in this manual can be used alone or in sequence to answer questions about the properties of proteins and nucleic acids. Flowcharts are provided to orient the novice researcher in the use of fundamental molecular techniques, and provide perspective regarding applications of the technical units in this manual.</p><p>Listed below are common questions about nucleic acids and techniques used to answer them. Also refer to Figure 1.</p><p>Listed below are common questions about proteins and techniques used to answer them. Also refer to Figure 2.</p><p>For many experiments, the concentration of protein in the sample must first be quantified (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here). For example, this is often done prior to performing SDS-PAGE and/or an immunoblot to ensure equal loading of different protein samples for comparison. To determine the localization of specific proteins, cells can first be lysed and fractionated by centrifugation (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here), followed by immunoblotting of the proteins (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here) from fractions containing specific cell substructures. A chromatography step would further resolve proteins from the various fractions (<i>\u0000 <span>UNITS</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here & here). Alternatively, localization of specific proteins to distinct cellular structures can be done using the immunofluorescence technique (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here).</p><p>This manual also includes techniques for studying whole cells and their substructures. These include cell fractionation by centrifugation (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here), cell imaging by conventional light microscopy (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here), and imaging by fluorescence microscopy (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here). Refer to Figure 3. All of these protocols require first growing cells in culture. Protocols for culturing bacteria (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here), culturing mammalian cells (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here), and culturing yeast (<i>\u0000 <span>UNIT</span>\u0000 </i>\u0000 here) are provided.</p><p>These techniques can be used to answer questions such as:</p><p>Does cell morphology change under different treatment conditions?</p><p>Does cell behavior change under different treatment conditions?</p><p>Do genetically altered cell lines display morphological phenotypes?</p><p>In which cellular substructures d","PeriodicalId":500994,"journal":{"name":"Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/9780470089941.etfm02s9","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"51143664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}