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Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay of Brain Tissues Using Percoll Gradient-Purified Nuclei

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1018))

Abstract

Protein–DNA interactions are critical to maintain genome stability, DNA replication, chromosome ­segregation and to regulate gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a powerful technique to study these interactions within living neurons and nervous tissue. In particular, ChIP analysis of chromatin in which protein–DNA interactions are first fixed in situ provides a valuable approach to identify specific transcription factor–DNA interactions and their regulation in the developing nervous system. Here we describe a procedure utilizing Percoll gradient purification of nuclei from fresh brain tissue pre-fixed with formaldehyde for ChIP analysis. This purification protocol provides an enrichment of neuronal nuclei in high yield. We also illustrate the suitability of chromatin prepared from Percoll-purified brain nuclei for ChIP analysis of regulated transcription factor interactions with neuronal gene promoters.

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Ding, B., Kilpatrick, D.L. (2013). Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay of Brain Tissues Using Percoll Gradient-Purified Nuclei. In: Zhou, R., Mei, L. (eds) Neural Development. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1018. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-444-9_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-444-9_19

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-443-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-444-9

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