Combinational electroporation and transplantation approach to studying gene functions in avian embryos

Abstract

Gene transfection is an indispensable approach for studying gene function since it provides important information on gain- and/or loss-of-function. Chick embryos are also extensively employed for studying biological function since they are easily accessible and can be maintained alive after manipulation. The combination of both techniques presents a powerful approach to understanding how genes regulate embryo development. Furthermore, combining these approaches with tissue transplant techniques make even more attractive for elucidate gene function. Electroporation, employing parallelly fashioned electrodes, has been widely used in chick embryos. However, experimenters have been frustrated by unsuccessfully transfection in some embryonic tissue of interest because the electrodes were improperly positioned. We presently demonstrated the different patterns of organizing and positioning the electrodes, in combination with tissue transplantation, to efficiently and specifically transfect the chick embryonic head, trunk neural tube, heart tube, somites and neural crest cells with the GFP reporter gene.