Automated reporter quantification in vivo: high-throughput screening method for reporter-based assays in zebrafish
- Authors
- Walker, S.L., Ariga, J., Mathias, J.R., Coothankandaswamy, V., Xie, X., Distel, M., Köster, R.W., Parsons, M.J., Bhalla, K.N., Saxena, M.T., and Mumm, J.S.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-120117-3
- Date
- 2012
- Source
- PLoS One 7(1): e29916 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Ariga, Junko, Köster, Reinhard W., Mathias, Jonathan, Mumm, Jeff, Parsons, Michael, Saxena, Meera T., Walker, Steven, Xie, Xiayang
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Automation/methods
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Bacterial Proteins/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian
- Gene Dosage*/physiology
- Gene Expression Profiling/methods
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Genes, Reporter*
- High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods*
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*
- Luminescent Proteins/genetics
- Luminescent Proteins/metabolism
- Osmolar Concentration
- Reproducibility of Results
- Validation Studies as Topic
- Zebrafish*/embryology
- Zebrafish*/genetics
- PubMed
- 22238673 Full text @ PLoS One
Reporter-based assays underlie many high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms, but most are limited to in vitro applications. Here, we report a simple whole-organism HTS method for quantifying changes in reporter intensity in individual zebrafish over time termed, Automated Reporter Quantification in vivo (ARQiv). ARQiv differs from current “high-content” (e.g., confocal imaging-based) whole-organism screening technologies by providing a purely quantitative data acquisition approach that affords marked improvements in throughput. ARQiv uses a fluorescence microplate reader with specific detection functionalities necessary for robust quantification of reporter signals in vivo. This approach is: 1) Rapid; achieving true HTS capacities (i.e., >50,000 units per day), 2) Reproducible; attaining HTS-compatible assay quality (i.e., Z'-factors of e0.5), and 3) Flexible; amenable to nearly any reporter-based assay in zebrafish embryos, larvae, or juveniles. ARQiv is used here to quantify changes in: 1) Cell number; loss and regeneration of two different fluorescently tagged cell types (pancreatic beta cells and rod photoreceptors), 2) Cell signaling; relative activity of a transgenic Notch-signaling reporter, and 3) Cell metabolism; accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In summary, ARQiv is a versatile and readily accessible approach facilitating evaluation of genetic and/or chemical manipulations in living zebrafish that complements current “high-content” whole-organism screening methods by providing a first-tier in vivo HTS drug discovery platform.