Skip to main content

Multicolor Fluorescent In Situ mRNA Hybridization (FISH) on Whole Mounts and Sections

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Xenopus Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 917))

Abstract

In situ hybridization involves the hybridization of an antisense RNA probe to an mRNA transcript and it is a powerful method for the characterization of gene expression in tissues, organs, or whole organisms. Performed as a whole mount (WISH), it allows the detection of mRNA transcripts in three dimensions, while combined with sectioning, either before or after hybridization, it provides gene expression information with cellular resolution. FISH relies on the fluorescence detection of probes and is the method of choice for the simultaneous detection of transcripts with similar or overlapping expression patterns, as each can be clearly distinguished by the selection of fluorophore. Here, we describe a protocol for performing multicolor FISH in Xenopus embryos in whole mounts and sections that can be further combined with antibody staining.

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 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
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. Tautz D, Pfeifle C (1989) A non-radioactive in situ hybridization method for the localization of specific RNAs in Drosophila embryos reveals translational control of the segmentation gene hunchback. Chromosoma 98:81–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brivanlou AH, Harland RM (1989) Expression of an engrailed-related protein is induced in the anterior neural ectoderm of early Xenopus embryos. Development 106:611–617

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Davidson LA, Keller RE (1999) Neural tube closure in Xenopus laevis involves medial migration, directed protrusive activity, cell intercalation and convergent extension. Development 126:4547–4556

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhou X, Vize PD (2004) Proximo-distal specialization of epithelial transport processes within the Xenopus pronephric kidney tubules. Dev Biol 271:322–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Vize PD, McCoy KE, Zhou X (2009) Multichannel wholemount fluorescent and fluorescent/chromogenic in situ hybridization in Xenopus embryos. Nat Protoc 4:975–983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bonev B, Pisco A, Papalopulu N (2011) MicroRNA-9 reveals regional diversity of neural progenitors along the anterior-posterior axis. Dev Cell 20:19–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sive HL, Grainger RM, Harland RM (2000) Early development of Xenopus laevis. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dubaissi E, Papalopulu N (2011) Embryonic frog epidermis: a model for the study of cell-cell interactions in the development of mucociliary disease. Dis Model Mech 4:179–192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Costa RM, Soto X, Chen Y, Zorn AM, Amaya E (2008) Spib is required for primitive myeloid development in Xenopus. Blood 112:2287–2296

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Carruthers S, Mason J, Papalopulu N (2003) Depletion of the cell-cycle inhibitor p27(Xic1) impairs neuronal differentiation and increases the number of ElrC(+) progenitor cells in Xenopus tropicalis. Mech Dev 120:607–616

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Enrique Amaya for donation of the mpo probe and Samantha Winkler for carrying out the mpo/v1a FISH. The work was funded by a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship to NP. BB and ED were funded by Wellcome Trust 4 year PhD studentships.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Peter D. Vize or Nancy Papalopulu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Lea, R., Bonev, B., Dubaissi, E., Vize, P.D., Papalopulu, N. (2012). Multicolor Fluorescent In Situ mRNA Hybridization (FISH) on Whole Mounts and Sections. In: HOPPLER, S., Vize, P. (eds) Xenopus Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 917. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-992-1_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-992-1_24

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-991-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-992-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics