| First Author | Sundararajan S | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Development | Volume | 139 |
| Issue | 23 | Pages | 4484-90 |
| PubMed ID | 23132248 | Mgi Jnum | J:190884 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5449826 | Doi | 10.1242/dev.078790 |
| Citation | Sundararajan S, et al. (2012) A fast and sensitive alternative for beta-galactosidase detection in mouse embryos. Development 139(23):4484-90 |
| abstractText | The bacterial lacZ gene is widely used as a reporter in a myriad of mouse transgenic experiments. beta-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 beta-galactosidase assay in mouse embryos. Using a combination of Salmon-gal and tetranitroblue tetrazolium, we were able to visualize the activity of beta-galactosidase in embryos at stages when the customary X-gal reaction failed to detect staining. Our studies provide an enhanced alternative for beta-galactosidase detection in expression and cell fate studies that use lacZ-based transgenic mouse lines. |
