| First Author | Shen X | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | PLoS One | Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | e0176915 |
| PubMed ID | 28475610 | Mgi Jnum | J:245690 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5915869 | Doi | 10.1371/journal.pone.0176915 |
| Citation | Shen X, et al. (2017) An improved method with high sensitivity and low background in detecting low beta-galactosidase expression in mouse embryos. PLoS One 12(5):e0176915 |
| abstractText | LacZ is widely used as a reporter in studies of gene expression patterns. beta-galactosidase, the product of LacZ gene, is usually detected by X-gal/FeCN staining. In X-gal/FeCN staining, beta-galactosidase catalyzes X-gal to produce blue precipitates, which indicate the expression patterns of the gene of interest. A newer LacZ detection method using S-gal/TNBT is more sensitive but plagued by high background. Here, we describe an improved procedure that combines advantageous steps from the two methods. By comparing with X-gal/FeCN and S-gal/TNBT methods in detecting the expression patterns of miR-322/503 and miR-451 at a series of developmental stages, the improved method showed higher sensitivity and lower background. Thus, the improved method could be an alternative way of beta-galactosidase staining in low gene expression situations. |
