20.109:Module 2

Module 2
Instructors: Alan Jasanoff and Natalie Kuldell

TA: Yoon Sung Nam

Once proteins are synthesized, their localization and conformation are critical to their function, but without “X-ray vision” to peer into a cell, these can be hard to detect. Fluorescence is one of the best tools in our toolkit for measuring proteins in living cells, allowing cellular functions to be probed unobtrusively. In this experimental module we will measure calcium fluctuations in living cells by tagging a calcium sensing protein with a fluorescent one. In the presence of calcium, the fluorescent protein will fold and the cells should appear green. We can transfect the genetically encoded calcium sensor into cells of interest, in this case mouse embryonic stem cells. Changes in fluorescence will allow us to quantitatively measure how chemical and physical perturbations affect calcium signaling in these cells.



Module 2 Day 1: Start-up signal measurement Module 2 Day 2: Measuring calcium in vitro Module 2 Day 3: Lipofection Module 2 Day 4: Measuring calcium in vivo Module 2 Day 5: Calcium signaling in vivo Module 2 Day 6: Student presentations

TA notes, mod 2