title: The nuclear membrane integrity assay.
abstract: A novel technique is described for the evaluation of membrane integrity in isolated nuclei. Membrane integrity is assessed by measuring nuclear fragility in response to high salt conditions. Salt-induced disruption of the nuclear membrane is followed by spectrophotometric monitoring of released nucleotides. The assay is based on determining the amount of salt necessary to induce release of 50% of the total pool of releasable nucleotides. This allows semiquantitative comparison of relative nuclear membrane strength or integrity of different samples in response to high salt conditions. In this manner, the effects of altered nuclear membrane composition or metabolism on membrane integrity may be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Czubryt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramjiawan
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole / Q000737:chemistry; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D004247:DNA; D002784:Cholesterol; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole