Focal gene misexpression in zebrafish embryos induced by local heat shock using a modified soldering iron.
Misexpression of genes in a temporally and spatially controlled fashion is an important tool for assessing gene function during development. Because few tissue-specific promoters have been identified in zebrafish, inducible systems such as the Cre/LoxP and Tet repressor systems are of limited utility. Here we describe a new method of misexpression: local heat shock using a modified soldering iron. Zebrafish carrying transgenes under the control of a heat shock promoter (hsp70) are focally heated with the soldering iron to induce gene expression in a small area of the embryo. We have validated this method in three stable transgenic lines and at three developmental timepoints. Local heat shock is a fast, easy, and inexpensive method for gene misexpression.
Hardy
Melissa E
ME
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Ross
Louis V
LV
Chien
Chi-Bin
CB
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006358:Hot Temperature; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098552:Slit Homolog 2 Protein