The LifeAct Guide: Using LifeAct in Living and Fixed Cells
To optimize the F-actin visualization in your experimental setup, ibidi has developed a broad LifeAct portfolio:
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LifeAct Plasmids: A range of plasmids for transient or stable transfections of various cell types; useful for brilliant visualization of F-actin. |
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LifeAct Adenoviral Vectors: Ready-to-use adenoviral vectors for efficient F-actin transduction, especially suitable for studies in difficult-to-transfect cells. |
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LifeAct Lentiviral Vectors: Lentiviral vectors for easy generation of stable LifeAct-expressing cell lines. |
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mRNA LifeAct: A ready-to-use LifeAct-encoding mRNA with a GFP2 tag for the brilliant visualization of F-actin in living cells. |
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LifeAct-TagGFP2 Protein: A recombinant protein for remarkably fast staining and immediate functional analysis of F-actin in living and fixed cells. |
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LifeAct Stable HT-1080 Cell Line: A stable, LifeAct-expressing human fibrosarcoma cell line for direct use in cell-based assays. |
Find the most suitable LifeAct product for your application below.
Please note:
To readily achieve high imaging performance, transfection or transduction of LifeAct can be easily done in ibidi’s μ-Slides and μ-Dishes. Discover more in our detailed Application Notes.
Find Your LifeAct Solution for F-Actin Visualization in Living Cells
Method Suitable for 1 | |||||
Cell lines |
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
Primary cells |
+
|
+++
|
++
|
+++
|
+++
|
Non-mammalian cells |
-
|
+
|
+
|
-
|
-
|
Transfection Stability | |||||
Transient |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Stable |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Protocol and Analysis | |||||
Protocol simplicity |
+++
|
++
|
++
|
+++
|
+++
|
LifeAct readout start |
1–2 days
|
few hours
|
few minutes
|
1–2 days
|
1–2 days
|
LIfeAct readout duration |
several days
(infinity if stable) |
several days
|
up to 1 day
|
several days
|
several days
(infinity if stable) |
Signal intensity |
+++
|
+++
|
+
|
+++
|
+++
|
Extra Benefits | |||||
Prevention of overexpression artefacts |
-
|
+
|
+++
|
+
|
+
|
Prevention of viral response |
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
-
|
-
|
Biocompatibility of transfer method |
+
|
+++
|
+++
|
++
|
++
|
Actin functionality |
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
+++
|
Safety Consideration | |||||
Biosafety Level |
BSL1
|
-
|
-
|
BSL2
|
BSL2
|
1 Not all of these combinations have been tested in all indicated cell types. We encourage you to use this table as a guideline to understand how the LifeAct system can be optimally applied.
Read on and learn more about Experimental Examples using LifeAct.