Untitled Flashcards Set

Cynvenio, Vortex, and CellInsight CX5 instruments

Used for analyzing and isolating cells, often in cancer research.

Bright field microscopy/compound light microscopy

Standard light microscope where specimens appear dark against a bright background.

Paraffin sections

Use wax for preserving samples.

Cryostat/Cryosections

Freeze samples for quick processing.

Phase contrast microscopy

Enhances contrast in transparent samples, useful for viewing live cells.

Nomarski/DIC microscopy

Provides 3D-like images by enhancing contrast in unstained samples.

Patch clamp

Measures electrical activity in individual cells, often used in neuroscience.

Darkfield microscopy

Illuminates specimens at an angle, making them appear bright on a dark background.

Polarizing light microscopy

Uses polarized light to study structures like crystals or fibers.

Spinning Disk Confocal microscopy

Captures fast-moving live cell images with low photodamage.

Point Scanning Confocal microscopy

Uses a laser to scan a sample point by point, reducing background noise.

Vivascope

A type of confocal microscope for imaging skin non-invasively.

Fluorescence Microscopy

Uses fluorescent dyes to highlight specific cell parts.

FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching)

Studies movement of molecules in membranes.

FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer)

Measures molecular interactions based on energy transfer between fluorescent molecules.

FRET biosensor

A molecular tool that detects specific biological activities using FRET.

TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy)

Highlights molecules at the cell surface with minimal background noise.

Vital fluorescent dyes

Stains used to observe live cells without killing them.

Fluorescence immunocytochemistry

Uses fluorescent antibodies to label proteins in cells.

ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)

Detects and measures proteins like antibodies or hormones.

Microspectrofluorometry/Plate Reading Spectrofluorometer

Measures fluorescence in small samples, often used in microplates.

Polyclonal antibodies

Recognize multiple parts of a protein.

Monoclonal antibodies

Target a single site on a protein.

GFP, YFP, CFP as reporter molecules

Fluorescent proteins used to track gene expression and cell activity.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Necrosis

Accidental cell death.

Autoradiography

Uses radioactive markers to detect molecules in cells or tissues.

FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization)

Detects specific DNA sequences in chromosomes.

Intracellular injection techniques

Methods to introduce substances into cells, e.g., microinjection and electroporation.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Provides detailed images of thin cell sections using electron beams.

High voltage electron microscopy

A more powerful version of TEM for thick samples.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Produces 3D images of surfaces using electrons.

Plastic thin sectioning

Embeds samples in plastic for thin-section imaging.

Freeze fracture

Splits frozen cells to examine internal structures.

Ultrastructural autoradiography

Combines autoradiography with electron microscopy for detailed imaging.

Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry

Uses antibodies to detect proteins in cell structures at an ultrastructural level.

Electron tomography

Creates 3D reconstructions of cells from electron microscope images.

Laser-capture microdissection microscopy

Isolates specific cells from a sample for further study.

Atomic Force Microscopy

Uses a tiny probe to create 3D images of cell surfaces.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Examines surfaces at the atomic level using electrical currents.

Two-photon microscopy

Uses two photons to image deeper into tissues with minimal damage.

Super-Resolution Microscopy

Breaks the resolution limit of traditional light microscopy for highly detailed images.

Deconvolution Microscopy

Improves image clarity by computationally removing blur.

SELDI-TOF/MALDI-TOF

Techniques for analyzing proteins based on mass spectrometry.

Densitometer

Measures the intensity of bands in gels or blots.

Pulse-chase

Tracks how molecules move and change over time in cells.

Radioactive tagging

Labels molecules with radioactive markers for tracking.

EGTA

Chelates calcium.

Protease

Breaks down proteins.

FACS/Flow cytometry

Sorts and analyzes cells based on their properties using lasers.

Guava

A compact flow cytometry system.

Velocity sedimentation

Separates cells based on their size and weight.

Dynabeads

Magnetic beads used to isolate specific molecules or cells.

Speedbeads

Another type of magnetic beads used in isolation processes.

Veridex CellSearch System

Detects rare circulating tumor cells in blood.

Trituration

Breaks down cells mechanically by pipetting.

Detergents (SDS and Triton X-100)

Used to break cell membranes for protein extraction.

Differential centrifugation

Separates cellular components by spinning samples at different speeds.

Equilibrium Density (Rate Zonal) centrifugation

Uses a density gradient to separate molecules based on weight.

DEAE and CM Ion exchange chromatography

Separates proteins based on charge differences.

Gel filtration

Separates molecules by size.

Affinity Chromatography

Captures proteins based on specific binding interactions.

Protein A immunoprecipitation

Isolates antibodies and their target proteins.

Dialysis

Removes small molecules from a protein solution using a membrane.

Native gel electrophoresis

Separates proteins based on size and shape while maintaining their natural state.

SDS gel electrophoresis

Separates proteins by size after denaturing them.

Isoelectric focusing

Separates proteins based on their charge at a specific pH.

2-D gel electrophoresis

Separates proteins first by charge, then by size.

Western blots

Detects specific proteins in a sample using antibodies.

Photoreactive amino acids

Modified amino acids that react to light for studying protein interactions.

Cell lines/strains

Cultured cells used for research.

Fetal bovine serum/defined media

Supplements used in cell culture for growth.

Biological scaffolds

Structures that support cell growth in tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering

Creating artificial tissues for medical applications.

Microporous membranes

Used for cell culture and filtration.

Bioprinting/3D printing

Uses cells to print tissue structures.

Decellularization

Removes cells from a tissue, leaving behind only the extracellular matrix for use in transplants.