GFP expression in Hydra: lessons from the particle gun.
The cnidarian Hydra is an important model organism to study pattern formation and tem cell differentiation. In the past, however, it has been difficult to study gene function in Hydra because the animals have hot been accessible to gene transfection studies, we have now developed a method to transiently express GFP-tagged proteins in Hydra using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression plasmid under the control of the Hydra actin promoter and a particle gun to introduce it into Hydra cell nuclei. We achieve strong transient GFP expression in a small but reproducible number of epithelial and interstitial cells. Implications for the use of this method to carry out single cell assays with GFP-tagged Hydra proteins are discussed.
Böttger
Angelika
A
Zoological Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Luisenstrasse 14, 80333 Munich, Germany. boettger@zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de
Alexandrova
Olga
O
Cikala
Mihai
M
Schade
Marsha
M
Herold
Michaela
M
David
Charles N
CN
D000818:Animals; D019470:Biolistics / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015870:Gene Expression; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006829:Hydra / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins