Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of transfected cells

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fluorescence-activated cell sorting of transfected cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is a technique that can measure the fluorescence intensity of individual cells within a population. The cells within a population are labeled with a fluorescent label in such a way that the intensity of fluorescence of an individual cell provides a quantitative measure of the particular parameter of interest. By staining cells with fluorochromes of different emission wavelengths, multiple parameters can be measured simultaneously. FACS has a number of applications within cell cycle research. For example, cellular DNA content is commonly measured with a fluorescent DNA intercalating agent such as propidium iodide (PI). The study of putative cell cycle regulatory proteins often requires their activities within the cell to be either enhanced or inhibited, and the consequences observed in terms of, for example, changes in cell cycle distribution.