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Ref: Cytometry 2001, Vol 43(2), p101-109.
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PCR | dUTP label | FISH | FISH guide| CCK | Slide prep | CM-FISH | TM-FISH | mArrays | Home

FISH Guide and Troubleshooting
(fluorescent DNA probes)


Note: Some of the common protocols are not described in detail, as they can be found in many books or articles. Instead, you will find short observations, comparisons, tips for improvement. As time allows, I may add more details to various sections.

a. Slide preparation guide
Topics: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 ||| Figures: Fig1 | Fig2 | Fig3 | Fig4 | Fig5 | Fig6 |

1. Cytogenetic techniques introduction
(short description of the cytogenetic protocols)
6. Slide preparation
(step-by-step protocol details)
2. Material and Methods
(from slide preparation to FISH detection)
7. When do chromosomes spread?
(description of what is happening on slides)
3. Cell suspensions
(preparation, handling, storage tips)
8. G-banding
(slide storage and tips for banding)

4. Cell fixatives
(observations on potential fixative solutions)

9. Selected references
(list of some literature titles used)
5. Slide preparation factors
(before, during and after dropping the cells)

b. FISH guide
TOPICS: |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23
FIGURES: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | TABLES: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

1. Materials and Methods; Table 1,2,3 (introduction, summary of procedures) 13. The "background theory"; Table 7, Fig 5,8,9 (why it happens, how to prevent)
2. Chemical aging of slides; Fig 1,2,3,4 (hot ethanol pretreatment protocol) 14. Cell quality in FISH; Fig 2 (comparison of quality of cells)
3. Protease digestion; Fig 1,2 (pepsin or trypsin pretreatment protocols) 15. Metaphase, interphase mapping; Fig 9 (simple procedures used in our laboratory)
4. Slide denaturing (description of alternative protocols) 16. FISH with short DNA probes; Fig 9 (use of plasmids, PCR products)
5. Hybridization buffers; Table 6, Fig 7 (composition and use) 17. FISH with complex probes; Fig 10, 11 (includes CGH, M-FISH, µdissection)
6. Repetitive sequences blocking; Table 5, Fig 8 (use of Cot1 DNA, salmon sperm DNA) 18. FISH with commercial probes; Fig 6, 10 (tips to decrease costs, do more tests)
7. Posthyb wash, DAPI (wash conditions, antifade, DAPI banding) 19. FISH on DNA fibers; Fig 10 (experimental tips, discussion)
8. Detection: antibody, tyramide; Table 7, Fig 9, 10 (fluorescent antibodies, TSA comparison) 20. FISH on paraffin sections; Fig 11 (includes DNA and RNA hybridization)
9. DNA labeling (nick translation, PCR); Table 4, 5, Fig 5 (comparison of labeling methods) 21. FISH and immunofluorescence
(simultaneous protocol description)
10. Labeled DNA purification (discussion of alternative procedures) 22. Multicolor immunofluorescence
(short procedure)
11. Inter-Alu PCR, Alu banding; Fig 9, 10 (use of Alu repeats in human cytogenetics) 23. Selected references
(list of some literature titles used)
12. Multicolor FISH; Fig 9, 10 (combinatorial labeling, triple color, multiple)

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Last modified on: Feb12, 2001

 

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