FACS / Flow Cytometry Analysis


 

Phospho-Flow Cytometry ImageFlow cytometry combines cell biology with the study of light waves. Indeed, Flow cytometry employs instrumentation that scans single cells flowing past excitation sources in a liquid medium. The technology can provide rapid, quantitative, multi-parameter analyses on single living (or dead) cells based on the measurement of visible and fluorescent light emission. Flow cytometry is a widely used method for characterizing properties of biological cells, including size, granularity, cell receptors, and even biological activities, such as DNA, RNA replication, and protein synthesis or suppression.

 

 

Rockland Flow Cytometry Analysis

 

 

Flow Cytometry Related Products 

FACs Buffer Products
PBS Products
FITC Products

 

 

 

 

Flow Cytometry Protocol

This basic protocol focuses on the measurement of fluorescence intensity produced by fluorescent-labeled antibodies and ligands that bind specific cell-associated molecules.

 

Reagents Required
  • Fast FACS Buffer: (Code # MB-086-0500, sodium azide assists in preventing capping and shedding or internalization of the antibody-antigen complex after the antibodies bind to the receptors). We suggest using our 10X PBS (Code # MB-008 10X PBS pH 7.2 (0.2 M Potassium Phosphate 1.5 M Sodium Chloride)).

  • Fixation Buffer: 2% Paraformaldehyde in PBS.

  • Permeabilization Buffer: 0.1% Triton in PBS.

  • 70% ethanol, stored at -20ºC.

 

 

Secondary Conjugated Antibody  

 

                                

PE
Human Anti-HUMAN IgG [H&L] (GOAT) Antibody Phycoerythrin conjugated
Mouse Anti-MOUSE IgG [H&L] (GOAT) Antibody Phycoerythrin conjugated
Rabbit Anti-RABBIT IgG [H&L] (GOAT) Antibody Phycoerythrin conjugated
Rat Anti-RAT IgG [H&L] (GOAT) Antibody Phycoerythrin conjugated



Isotype Controls

 

Armenian Hamster IgG 019-001-002
Goat IgG                               005-0102
Human IgG                         009-0102
Mouse IgG                       010-0102
Mouse IgG1 subclass 010-0140
Mouse IgG2a subclass 010-0141
Mouse IgG2b subclass 010-0142
Mouse IgG3 subclass 010-0143
Rabbit IgG 011-0102



Procedure A: Cell Surface Antigens Analysis

  1. Collect 1-3 x 105 cells per sample, wash with 2 ml FACS buffer.

  2. Centrifuge and aspirate supernatant.

  3. Resuspend cells with 100 µl FACS buffer containing 0.5-1 µg antibody, vortex and incubate on ice for 30min.

  4. Wash cells with 2 ml FACS buffer. Centrifuge and aspirate supernatant.

  5. Resuspend cells with 100 µl FACS buffer containing 1 µg secondary antibody, vortex and incubate on ice for 30min. Perform the incubation in dark. Secondary antibodies used for FACS are typically F(ab')2 fragment antibodies conjugated to fluorochromes like FITC or R-Phycoerythrin.

  6. Wash with 2 ml FACS buffer. Centrifuge and aspirate supernatant.

  7. Resuspend cells with 0.5-2 ml FACS buffer. Place samples in 12 X 75mm Falcon tubes and analyze by flow cytometry as soon as possible (within 1 hr). Alternatively, samples can be fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde fixation buffer and stored at 4° C in the dark for up to one week before flow cytometry analysis.

Procedure B: Intracellular Antigens Analysis

  1. Collect 1-3 x 105 cells per sample, wash with PBS.

  2. Fix the cells by adding 100 µl of fixation buffer to cell pellet, vortex and incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes.

  3. Add 1 ml of permeabilization buffer to each tube, centrifuge and aspirate supernatant.

  4. Resuspend cells in 100 µl of permeabilization buffer and incubate at room temperature for 5 minutes.

  5. Wash cells with 2 ml FACS buffer. Centrifuge and aspirate supernatant.

  6. Perform antibody staining as procedure I from step 3 to 7.

If it is desired to simultaneously analyze surface and intracellular molecules at single-cell level, staining cell-surface antigen first by following procedure A step 1 to 6, then stain the intracellular antigen by following procedure B. Perform all procedure B steps in dark.


Procedure C: Staining DNA for Cell Cycle Analysis


This procedure utilizes ethanol to fix the cells and permeabilize the membrane, which allows the dye (Propidium Iodide) to enter the cells. Propidium Iodide (PI) is a DNA-binding fluorochrome that intercalates in the double-helix. Ribonuclease-A is used to eliminate the staining of double-stranded RNA.

  1. Collect 1-3 x 105 cells per sample, wash with PBS.

  2. Fix cells in 70% ethanol at 4°C for 30 minutes. For proper fixation and to prevent cell aggregation, employ agitation while fixing.

  3. Centrifuge fixed cells and resuspend pellet in 1 ml of PBS.

  4. Add 100 µl of 200 µg/ml DNase-free, RNaseA and incubate at 37°C for 30 minutes.

  5. Add 100 µl of 1 mg/ml propidium iodide (light sensitive) and incubate at room temperature for 10-30 minutes.

  6. Place samples in 12 X 75mm Falcon tubes and analyze by flow cytometry

Procedure C can be combined with the procedure A of cell surface antigens analysis. Use only FITC-labeled antibodies for surface antigen, since PI emits in the orange to red region of the spectrum (FITC emits green). Do not fix the cells with paraformaldehyde. Start procedure C after step 6 of procedure A.


Additional FACS Protocol Resources

www.protocol-online.org/prot/Cell_Biology/Cytometry