title: A fast and sensitive alternative for β-galactosidase detection in mouse embryos.
abstract: The bacterial lacZ gene is widely used as a reporter in a myriad of mouse transgenic experiments. β-Galactosidase, encoded by lacZ, is usually detected using X-gal in combination with ferric and ferrous ions. This assay produces a blue indole precipitate that is easy to detect visually. Here, we show that Salmon-gal in combination with tetrazolium salts provides a more sensitive and faster staining reaction than the traditional β-galactosidase assay in mouse embryos. Using a combination of Salmon-gal and tetranitroblue tetrazolium, we were able to visualize the activity of β-galactosidase in embryos at stages when the customary X-gal reaction failed to detect staining. Our studies provide an enhanced alternative for β-galactosidase detection in expression and cell fate studies that use lacZ-based transgenic mouse lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, S7-228, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Sakthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakamiya
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Behringer
authors.forename: Jaime A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rivera-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005697:Galactosides / Q000737:chemistry; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry; D007763:Lac Operon; D051379:Mice; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C577377:6-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside