Endo-Porter-mediated delivery of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligos (PMOs) in erythrocyte suspension cultures from Cope's gray treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis

Biotechniques. 2011 May;50(5):329-32. doi: 10.2144/000113671.

Abstract

Cope's gray treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis, is a freeze-tolerant anuran that accumulates cryoprotective glycerol during cold acclimation. H. chrysoscelis erythrocytes express the aquaglyceroporin HC-3, which facilitates transmembrane glycerol and water movement. Aquaglyceroporins have no pharmacological inhibitors, and no genetic knockout tools currently exist for H. chrysoscelis. A phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligo (PMO)-mediated expression knockdown approach was therefore pursued to provide a model for testing the role of HC-3. We describe a novel procedure optimized for specific, efficient knockdown of HC-3 expression in amphibian erythrocyte suspensions cultured at nonmammalian physiological temperatures using Endo-Porter. Our protocol includes three critical components: pre-incubation at 37°C, two rounds of Endo-Porter and HC-3 PMO administration at ~23°C, and continuous shaking at 190 rpm. This combination of steps resulted in 94% reduction in HC-3 protein expression (Western blot), substantial decrease in HC-3 expression in >65% of erythrocytes, and no detectable expression in an additional 30% of cells (immunocytochemistry).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / metabolism*
  • Aquaglyceroporins / drug effects*
  • Aquaglyceroporins / metabolism*
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Glycerol / metabolism
  • Morpholines / metabolism*
  • Morpholinos
  • Oligonucleotides / administration & dosage
  • Oligonucleotides / genetics
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / administration & dosage*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • Peptides / administration & dosage*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Aquaglyceroporins
  • Endo-Porter
  • Morpholines
  • Morpholinos
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Peptides
  • Glycerol