May 2015 Goals

In an effort to keep myself on track to compete the SAFS masters program by later this year I am going to write monthly goals to complete for each month.

This month:

Process samples to produce cDNA for qPCR
Run qPCR using primers for HSP70, Actin, and other interesting primers
Edit the Materials and Methods section
Write the Results sections of my next manuscript
Begin writing the Intro/Discussion
Prepare for my wedding

5 1 2015 qPCR Quality Check

Today I ran a quality check on the samples that I isolated yesterday. Instead of creating cDNA before doing the qPCR I ran just the RNA with Actin primers to determine if there was any genomic contamination in the RNA samples. I diluted the RNA to levels similar to that which would have gone from the cDNA process to the qPCR process. This was to ensure that any genomic dna would be at levels similar to that from from the cDNA process and wouldn't over estimate the concentration of them in the sample.

The qPCR protocol was as follows

Master Mix

	Volume	Reactions X12
Ssofast Evagreen MM	10	120
FWD Primer	0.5	6
REV Primer	0.5	6
Nuclease Free H2O	9.8	117.6

1. Added the reagents from highest volume to lowest to the master mix

2. Vortexed

3. pipetted into .5 ml qPCR tubes

4. Added 0.2 ul RNA to each tube from each isolation

5. Placed into the Opticon 2 qPCR machine

6. Ran the program "Sybr New Plate + Sybr cDNA 55 melt 2 reads"

Results

As you can see, the samples began amplifying at 27-30 cycles which is indicative of a genomic DNA contamination. The negative control did not begin amplifying until 37 cycles. 

For future work, I need to use a DNase treatment to remove genomic DNA before I create cDNA. Next week I will isolate the 310 heat shock animals, DNase treat everything, and produce cDNA. 

4 30 2015 RNA Isolation FISH 310 samples

Today I isolated RNA from samples collected by the Biology of Shellfish students. These samples are nearly identical to mine except that they were treated slightly different and collected by the students. The tissue is primarily ctenidia but there were traces of mantle and glycogen stores in it. The samples were collected on tuesday and stored in RNAzol in the -80 until today.

The samples were labeled
42815HM1-5
42815SM1-5

The protocol is as follows:

1. 100 mg tissue homogenized in 1 ml RNAzol RT at room temp. 
2. Added 400 ul Nanopure water to homogenate.
3. Incubated 15 minutes at room temp
4. Centrifuged 15 minutes at 11,400 rpm (~12,000 g)
5. Transfered 1 ml supernatant to fresh tube
6. Added 400 ul 75% EtOH
7. Mixed via inversion for 15 seconds
8. Incubated samples 10 minutes at room temp
9. Centrifuged 8 minutes at 11,400 rpm (~12,000 g)
10. Discarded supernant
11. Added 600 ul 75% EtOH
12. Vortexed 15 seconds
13. Centrifuged 3 minutes at 7,400 rpm (~8000 g)
14. Repeated steps 10 - 13. 
15. Removed supernatant
16. resuspended RNA in 100 ul Nanopure water
17. Nanodropped

The results from the nanodrop were as follows. 

Sample ID	Date	ng/ul	A260	A280	260/280	260/230
42815HM1	4/30/2015	94.49	2.362	1.336	1.77	2.25
42815HM2	4/30/2015	46.68	1.167	0.741	1.57	0.88
42815HM3	4/30/2015	40.23	1.006	0.649	1.55	0.67
42815HM4	4/30/2015	105.78	2.644	1.475	1.79	1.43
42815HM5	4/30/2015	182.93	4.573	2.517	1.82	2.19
42815SM1	4/30/2015	257.87	6.447	3.468	1.86	2.29
42815SM2	4/30/2015	66.35	1.659	0.999	1.66	2.26
42815SM3	4/30/2015	43.2	1.08	0.645	1.67	0.99
42815SM4	4/30/2015	143	3.575	2.001	1.79	1.24
42815SM5	4/30/2015	235.27	5.882	3.195	1.84	1.69

Tomorrow I will run a qPCR on the RNA to verify the purity of the RNA and ensure there is no genomic DNA in the sample. 

4 23 2015 Heat/Mechanical Shock 24 Hour Time Point

Today I completed the 24 hour time point collection and the collection of the controls for the experiment. Tonight I ran out of liquid nitrogen before doing the control groups. I put them on ice and placed them in the -80 ASAP.

Heat Stress

• 24 hours post exposure 8 animals each pop staggered by 1 hour
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
  • collected with ethanol flame sterilized forceps and scissors
    • tools kept in 100% EtOH
    • ran through EtOH flame
    • allow EtOH to burn off
    • Collect tissue
    • replace in 100% EtOH
    • wipe occasionally with paper towel and resterilize
  • ctenidia sample (50-100 mg) homogenized in 1 ml RNAzol stored at -80°C
  • 2nd ctenidia sample in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • mantle sample in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen -80°C
  • remaining tissue placed in 15 ml conical with 75% EtOH at -20°C
  • shells placed in labeled plastic bags so correspond to sample including oyster id

Mechanical Stress

• 24 hours post exposure 8 animals each pop staggered by 1 hour
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
  • collected with ethanol flame sterilized forceps and scissors
    • tools kept in 100% EtOH
    • ran through EtOH flame
    • allow EtOH to burn off
    • Collect tissue
    • replace in 100% EtOH
    • wipe occasionally with paper towel and resterilize
  • ctenidia sample (50-100 mg) homogenized in 1 ml RNAzol stored at -80°C
  • 2nd ctenidia sample in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • mantle sample in 1.5 ml tube dropped into liquid nitrogen - then to -80°C
  • remaining tissue placed in 15 ml conical with 75% EtOH at -20°C
  • shells placed in labeled plastic bags so correspond to sample including oyster id

Controls

For controls sample 8 from each group, this should be done on day 2 as less things are going on. Protocol is the same. These oyster should have remained in holding tank-throughout and should simply be removed and sampled. There is no treatment. Using sterile techniqes.

• ctenidia sample (50-100 mg) homogenized in 1 ml RNAzol stored at -80°C
• 2nd ctenidia sample (any remaining) in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
• mantle sample (50-100 mg) in 1.5 ml tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
• remaining tissue placed in 15 ml conical with 75% EtOH at -20°C
• shells placed in labeled plastic bags so correspond to sample including oyster id

4 22 2015 Heat/Mechanical Shock Experiment

Today I ran the Heat and Mechanical Shock experiment on my oysters. While most groups got liquid nitrogen treatment, the mechanical H and S groups did not due to lack of Liquid N2. For those samples I placed them on ice and moved them to the -80 as soon as possible.  The procedure went as follows.

Pre-Experiment

Oysters

• 8°C
• fed daily with 5-10 ml per tank commercial shellfish diet (Isochrysis 1800 mix Marine Algae)
• Partial water changes once per week (remove 5 gallons, replace with fresh 5 gallons)
  • Seawater from Seattle Aquarium
• Aeration with aquarium aerator/stone
• circulation with underwater pump
• Tanks 10 gallon plastic storage tubs (costco storage tubs)

Homogenization tubes for ctenidia prelabelled with date (42215,42315), pop (N,H,S), treatment (T,M) and time point (1, 24) or Control, and oyster # (1,2,3...)

Collection 1.5 ml tubes (screw cap) for ctenidia prelabelled with date (42215,42315), pop (N,H,S), treatment (T,M) and time point (1, 24) or Control, oyster # (1,2,3...), and tissue type (C, M)

Collection 1.5 ml tubes (screw cap) for mantle prelabelled with date (42215,42315), pop (N,H,S), treatment (T,M) and time point (1, 24) or Control, oyster # (1,2,3...), and tissue type (C, M)

15 ml conical tubes for whole oyster prelabelled with date (42215,42315), pop (N,H,S), treatment (T,M) and time point (1, 24) or Control, and oyster # (1,2,3...)

Warm fresh seawater in 500 ml beaker to 38°C by immersing it in a water bath at 38°C.

Experiment

Heat Stress

• 22 oysters each pop in a mesh bag were lowered (stagger each pop by 1 hour) into 500 ml of prewarmed 38°C sea water (1 hr timer started)
  
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
• after 1 hour exposure heat stress ends, animals returned to 8°C water.
• 1 hour post exposure 8 animals sampled from each group staggered by 1 hour
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
  • collected with ethanol flame sterilized forceps and scissors
    • tools kept in 100% EtOH
    • ran through EtOH flame
    • allow EtOH to burn off
    • Collect tissue
    • replace in 100% EtOH
    • wipe occasionally with paper towel and resterilize
  • ctenidia sample (50-100 mg) homogenized in 1 ml Trizol stored at -80°C
  • 2nd ctenidia sample (any remaining) in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • mantle sample (decent size) in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • remaining tissue placed in 15 ml conical with 75% EtOH at -20°C
  • shells in individual labeled ziploc bags so correspond to sample including oyster id

Mechanical Stress

• 22 oysters from 1 pop placed in bucket in centrifuge and spun for 5 minutes at 1000 rpm.  Samples staggered by 1 hour. Completed after all heat shock treatments and samples were taken.
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
• after 5 minutes of mechanical stress, animals returned to 8°C water
• 1 hour post exposure 8 animals sampled from each group staggered by 1 hour
  • N pop first, H pop next, S pop last
  • collected with ethanol flame sterilized forceps and scissors
    • tools kept in 100% EtOH
    • ran through EtOH flame
    • allow EtOH to burn off
    • Collect tissue
    • replace in 100% EtOH
    • wipe occasionally with paper towel and resterilize
  • ctenidia sample (50-100 mg) homogenized in 1 ml Trizol stored at -80°C
  • 2nd ctenidia sample (any remaining) in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • mantle sample (decent size) in 1.5 ml screw cap tube dropped into liquid nitrogen then to -80°C
  • remaining tissue placed in 15 ml conical with 75% EtOH at -20°C
  • shells in individual labeled ziploc bags so correspond to sample including oyster id

4 2 2015 EZNA Seed Isolation with Fidalgo pt 2.

Today I completed the 96 seed isolation with the EZNA kit. I isolated the last 12 samples for Fidalgo. The samples are in the freezer in 209 and are ready for GBS processing. You can read about the last Fidalgo isolation in this blogpost.

Before using the EZNA Kit I dissected out whole body tissue from 12 seed oysters into the homogenization tube. The oysters are labeled NF 21-32. I used flame sterilized equipment to dissect the animals. 

The protocol is as follows:

1. Added 350 ul ML1 Buffer
2. Added 25 ul Proteinase K solution
3. Used pestle in homogenization tube to grind tissue in solution
4. Vortexed
5. Incubated at 60 C for 30 minutes
6. Added 350 ul Phenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl Alcohol (25:24:1)
7. Vortexed
8. Centrifuged 10,000 g for 2 minutes
9. Transferred the upper aqueous phase to new tube (~300 ul)
10. Added 300 ul MBL Buffer
11. Added 10 ul RNase A
12. Vortexed for 15 seconds
13. Incubated at 70C (started at 67.5 C) for 10 minutes
14. Cooled to room temperature sitting for 5 minutes
15. Added 300 ul 100% EtOH
16. Vortexed for 15 seconds
17. Put spin column in collection tube
18. Added 750 ul sample solution to column
19. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
20. Discarded flowthrough
21. Repeated 18-20 with remaining sample
22. Discarded collection tube and replaced with a new one. 
23. Added 500 ul HBC solution. 
24. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 30 seconds at 4C
25. Discarded flowthrough
26. Added 700 ul DNA Wash Buffer
27. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
28. Discarded flowthrough
29. Repeated 26-28
30. Centrifuged Empty column for 2 minutes at 10,000 g at 4C
31. Discarded collection tube and put column into microcentrifuge tube for sample collection
32. Added 100 ul preheated 70C Elution Buffer
33. Incubated for 2 minutes
34. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
35. Repeated 32-34. 
36. Stored DNA at -20 C

DNA is in a box labelled:

Seed Oly DNA HL NF

3/23/15 Jake Heare 1 of 2

Seed Oly DNA SN 

3/31/15 JH 2 of 2

4 1 2015 EZNA Dabob pt 2 and Oyster pt 3

Today I continued the seed DNA isolation. I completed the 32 Dabob Seeds and the 32 Oyster Bay Seeds as appropriate. You can read about the previous Dabob isolation here. You can read about the other Oyster bay Isolations here and here.

Before using the EZNA Kit I dissected out whole body tissue from 14 seed oysters into the homogenization tube. The oysters are labeled SN 31-32 and HL 21-32. I used flame sterilized equipment to dissect the animals. 

The protocol is as follows:

1. Added 350 ul ML1 Buffer
2. Added 25 ul Proteinase K solution
3. Used pestle in homogenization tube to grind tissue in solution
4. Vortexed
5. Incubated at 60 C for 30 minutes
6. Added 350 ul Phenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl Alcohol (25:24:1)
7. Vortexed
8. Centrifuged 10,000 g for 2 minutes
9. Transferred the upper aqueous phase to new tube (~300 ul)
10. Added 300 ul MBL Buffer
11. Added 10 ul RNase A
12. Vortexed for 15 seconds
13. Incubated at 70C (started at 67.5 C) for 10 minutes
14. Cooled to room temperature sitting for 5 minutes
15. Added 300 ul 100% EtOH
16. Vortexed for 15 seconds
17. Put spin column in collection tube
18. Added 750 ul sample solution to column
19. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
20. Discarded flowthrough
21. Repeated 18-20 with remaining sample
22. Discarded collection tube and replaced with a new one. 
23. Added 500 ul HBC solution. 
24. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 30 seconds at 4C
25. Discarded flowthrough
26. Added 700 ul DNA Wash Buffer
27. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
28. Discarded flowthrough
29. Repeated 26-28
30. Centrifuged Empty column for 2 minutes at 10,000 g at 4C
31. Discarded collection tube and put column into microcentrifuge tube for sample collection
32. Added 100 ul preheated 70C Elution Buffer
33. Incubated for 2 minutes
34. Centrifuged at 10,000 g for 1 minute at 4C
35. Repeated 32-34. 
36. Stored DNA at -20 C

DNA is in a box labelled:

Seed Oly DNA HL 

3/23/15 Jake Heare

Seed Oly DNA SN 

3/31/15 JH 2 of 2