Measuring NLR oligomerization II: Detection of ASC speck formation by confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence

Michael Beilharz, Dominic De Nardo’S, Eicke Latz, Bernardo S. Franklin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Otherpeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Inflammasome assembly results in the formation of a large intracellular protein scaffold driven by the oligomerization of the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC). Following inflammasome activation, ASC polymerizes to form a large singular structure termed the ASC “speck,” which is crucial for recruitment of caspase-1 and its inflammatory activity. Hence, due to the considerably large size of these structures, ASC specks can be easily visualized by microscopy as a simple upstream readout for inflammasome activation. Here, we provide two detailed protocols for imaging ASC specks: by (1) live-cell imaging of monocyte/macrophage cell lines expressing a fluorescently tagged version of ASC and (2) immunofluorescence of endogenous ASC in cell lines and human immune cells. In addition, we outline a protocol for increasing the specificity of ASC antibodies for use in immunofluorescence.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNLR Proteins
Subtitle of host publicationMethods and Protocols
EditorsFrancesco Di Virgilio, Pablo Pelegrin
PublisherHumana Press
Pages145-158
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9781493935666
ISBN (Print)9781493935642
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameMethods in Molecular Biology
Volume1417
ISSN (Print)1064-3745

Keywords

  • ASC
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Flow cytometry
  • Immunofluorescence
  • Inflammasome
  • Live-cell imaging
  • Speck

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