Skip to main content

Pulse Shape Analysis (PulSA) to Track Protein Translocalization in Cells by Flow Cytometry: Applications for Polyglutamine Aggregation

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Tandem Repeats in Genes, Proteins, and Disease

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1017))

Abstract

Pulse shape analysis (PulSA) is a flow cytometry-based method that can be used to study protein localization patterns in cells. Examples for its use include tracking the formation of inclusion bodies of polyglutamine-expanded proteins and other aggregating proteins. The method can also be used for phenomena relating to protein movements in cells such as translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, trafficking from the plasma membrane to the Golgi, and stress granule formation. An attractive feature is its capacity to quantify these parameters in whole-cell populations very quickly and in high throughput. We describe the basic experimental details for performing PulSA using expression of GFP-tagged proteins, endogenous proteins labelled immunofluorescently, and organelle dyes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Tyedmers J, Mogk A, Bukau B (2010) Cellular strategies for controlling protein aggregation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 11(11):777–788

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abraham VC, Taylor DL, Haskins JR (2004) High content screening applied to large-scale cell biology. Trends Biotechnol 22(1):15–22. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2003.10.012

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ramdzan YM, Polling S, Chia CP, Ng IH, Ormsby AR, Croft NP, Purcell AW, Bogoyevitch MA, Ng DC, Gleeson PA, Hatters DM (2012) Tracking protein aggregation and mislocalization in cells with flow cytometry. Nat Methods 9(5):467–470. doi:10.1038/nmeth.1930

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hoffman RA (2009) Pulse width for particle sizing. Curr Protoc Cytom Chapter 1:1.23.21–21.23.17. doi:10.1002/0471142956.cy0123s50

  5. Shapiro HM (2003) Practical Flow Cytometry, 4th ed., Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey. ISBN: 0-471-41125-6

    Google Scholar 

  6. Baumgarth N, Roederer M (2000) A practical approach to multicolor flow cytometry for immunophenotyping. J Immunol Methods 243(1–2):77–97

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jung T, Schauer U, Heusser C, Neumann C, Rieger C (1993) Detection of intracellular cytokines by flow cytometry. J Immunol Methods 159(1–2):197–207. doi:10.1016/0022-1759(93)90158-4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by grants to D.M.H. from the Australian Research Council (DP120102763) and the Hereditary Disease Foundation. D.M.H. is a Grimwade Research fellow, funded by the Miegunyah Trust.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Ramdzan, Y.M., Wood, R., Hatters, D.M. (2013). Pulse Shape Analysis (PulSA) to Track Protein Translocalization in Cells by Flow Cytometry: Applications for Polyglutamine Aggregation. In: Hatters, D., Hannan, A. (eds) Tandem Repeats in Genes, Proteins, and Disease. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1017. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-438-8_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-438-8_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-437-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-438-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics