Embryonic Carcinoma Cells with mEmerald-Plastin and mApple-Paxillin
Experimental research has recognized the therapeutic potential of teratocarcinoma-derived NT2 cells in stroke therapy. Exposure of these cells, which share many traits of neuroepithelial precursor cells, to RA treatment over a period of 6 weeks has been demonstrated to lead to down-regulation of neuroepithelial markers, at the same time increasing expression of neuronal markers. NT2 cells can be genetically engineered, permitting the expression of a gene in vitro and in vivo, further allowing analysis of the cellular and molecular biology of neurons.
Focal adhesions were fluorescently tagged in the NT2 cells featured in the digital video sequence in this section with mApple fused to paxillin. The red fluorescent protein mApple is a member of the monomeric mFruit series of fluorescent proteins developed from mRFP1 using a directed evolution approach. mApple is bright, photostable, and matures rapidly. Excitation and emission maxima of mApple occur at wavelengths of 568 and 592 nanometers, respectively. The NT2 cells were also labeled with mEmerald fused to plastin, which is an actin-binding protein. mEmerald is an enhanced variant of EGFP that exhibits peak excitation and emission at 487 and 509 nanometers, respectively.