N, Sigma) was used as secondary antibody. Immunoreactive bands were detected

N, Sigma) was used as secondary antibody. Immunoreactive bands were detected by ECL chemioluminescence (Millipore) and quantified with Quantity One Image Software (Biorad). Data are expressed as density/mg of protein. The b2-m species in transgenic populations were identified by western blotting [22]. Equal amounts of protein lysates were filtered using a 30K cut off JW 74 biological activity filter device (Millipore) and, flow through samples were loaded onto gradient 8?8 Excel SDS gel (GE Healthcare) for electrophoresis performed under reducing conditions. Proteins were transferred to Immobilon P membranes and blot was developed with a rabbit polyclonal anti human b2-m antibody (1:1000 dilution, Dako) and anti-rabbit IgG peroxidase conjugate (1:10000 dilution, Sigma) as primary and secondary antibody respectively. Chemioluminescent substrate was used as above.Body Bends assayBody Bends assays were performed at room temperature using a stereomicroscope (M165 FC Leica) equipped with a digital camera (Leica DFC425C and SW Kit). L3 4 worms were picked and transferred into a 96-well microtiter plate containing 100 ml of ddH2O. The number of left-right movements in a minute was recorded. To determine the effect of tetracycline in preventing the locomotory defect caused by b2-m expression, egg-synchronized transgenic worms (100worms/plate) were placed into fresh NMG plates, 20uC and, seeded with tetracycline-resistant E. coli [22]. After thirty-six hours, at their L3/L4 larval stage, worms were fed with 50?00 mM 1379592 tetracycline hydrochloride or doxycycline (100 ml/plate) and body bends in liquid were scored after 24 hours. Tetracycline hydrochloride and doxycycline were from Fluka (Switzerland) and were freshly dissolved in water before use.Pharyngeal pumping assayIndividual L3/L4 transgenic worms were placed into NMG plates seeded with E. coli and the pumping behaviour was scored by counting the number of times the terminal bulb of the pharynx contracted over a 1-minute interval.Superoxide productionSuperoxide anions, in synchronized L3/L4 worms, were estimated using the colorimetric nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay [27]. Superoxide anions were measured in 100 ml sample volume added with 1.5 ml of 50 nM phorbol myristate acetate, 50 ml of 1.8 mM NBT (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) and, incubated at 37uC for 30 min. Absorbance was read at 560 nm against blank samples MedChemExpress 307538-42-7 without worm homogenate (Infinite M200 multifunctional micro-plate reader, Tecan, Austria). Superoxide production was expressed as percentage of NBT (absorbance/mg of protein) compared to untreated control worms. The protein content was determined using Bio-Rad Protein assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories GmbH, Munchen, Germany).ImmunofluorescenceFluorescence microscopy analysis was carried out on whole worms [25,26]. Briefly, egg-synchronized L4/young adult worms were collected, rinsed and fixed in 2 p-formaldehyde solution. Fixed worms were subjected to thermal shock and washed twice in 100 mM Tris-HCl solution pH7.4, containing 1 (v/v) Triton X100 and 1 mM EDTA. Samples were reduced with 2 hours incubation, 37uC, using the same buffer containing 1 bmercaptoethanol followed by further 15 min incubation, in 25 mM H3BO3 solution, pH9.2, containing 10 mM DTT, at room temperature. Subsequent steps included: incubation in 25 mM H3BO3, pH 9.2, containing 1 H2O2, room temperature for 15 min; extensive washing in 5 mM PBS pH7.4, containing 1 bovine serum albumin, 0.5 Triton X-100, 0.05 sodium azide and, 1 mM.N, Sigma) was used as secondary antibody. Immunoreactive bands were detected by ECL chemioluminescence (Millipore) and quantified with Quantity One Image Software (Biorad). Data are expressed as density/mg of protein. The b2-m species in transgenic populations were identified by western blotting [22]. Equal amounts of protein lysates were filtered using a 30K cut off filter device (Millipore) and, flow through samples were loaded onto gradient 8?8 Excel SDS gel (GE Healthcare) for electrophoresis performed under reducing conditions. Proteins were transferred to Immobilon P membranes and blot was developed with a rabbit polyclonal anti human b2-m antibody (1:1000 dilution, Dako) and anti-rabbit IgG peroxidase conjugate (1:10000 dilution, Sigma) as primary and secondary antibody respectively. Chemioluminescent substrate was used as above.Body Bends assayBody Bends assays were performed at room temperature using a stereomicroscope (M165 FC Leica) equipped with a digital camera (Leica DFC425C and SW Kit). L3 4 worms were picked and transferred into a 96-well microtiter plate containing 100 ml of ddH2O. The number of left-right movements in a minute was recorded. To determine the effect of tetracycline in preventing the locomotory defect caused by b2-m expression, egg-synchronized transgenic worms (100worms/plate) were placed into fresh NMG plates, 20uC and, seeded with tetracycline-resistant E. coli [22]. After thirty-six hours, at their L3/L4 larval stage, worms were fed with 50?00 mM 1379592 tetracycline hydrochloride or doxycycline (100 ml/plate) and body bends in liquid were scored after 24 hours. Tetracycline hydrochloride and doxycycline were from Fluka (Switzerland) and were freshly dissolved in water before use.Pharyngeal pumping assayIndividual L3/L4 transgenic worms were placed into NMG plates seeded with E. coli and the pumping behaviour was scored by counting the number of times the terminal bulb of the pharynx contracted over a 1-minute interval.Superoxide productionSuperoxide anions, in synchronized L3/L4 worms, were estimated using the colorimetric nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay [27]. Superoxide anions were measured in 100 ml sample volume added with 1.5 ml of 50 nM phorbol myristate acetate, 50 ml of 1.8 mM NBT (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) and, incubated at 37uC for 30 min. Absorbance was read at 560 nm against blank samples without worm homogenate (Infinite M200 multifunctional micro-plate reader, Tecan, Austria). Superoxide production was expressed as percentage of NBT (absorbance/mg of protein) compared to untreated control worms. The protein content was determined using Bio-Rad Protein assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories GmbH, Munchen, Germany).ImmunofluorescenceFluorescence microscopy analysis was carried out on whole worms [25,26]. Briefly, egg-synchronized L4/young adult worms were collected, rinsed and fixed in 2 p-formaldehyde solution. Fixed worms were subjected to thermal shock and washed twice in 100 mM Tris-HCl solution pH7.4, containing 1 (v/v) Triton X100 and 1 mM EDTA. Samples were reduced with 2 hours incubation, 37uC, using the same buffer containing 1 bmercaptoethanol followed by further 15 min incubation, in 25 mM H3BO3 solution, pH9.2, containing 10 mM DTT, at room temperature. Subsequent steps included: incubation in 25 mM H3BO3, pH 9.2, containing 1 H2O2, room temperature for 15 min; extensive washing in 5 mM PBS pH7.4, containing 1 bovine serum albumin, 0.5 Triton X-100, 0.05 sodium azide and, 1 mM.