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:
 |
LifeAct Plasmids: A range of plasmids for transient or stable transfections of various cell types; useful for brilliant visualization of F-actin. |
 |
LifeAct Adenoviral Vectors: Ready-to-use adenoviral vectors for efficient F-actin transduction, especially suitable for studies in difficult-to-transfect cells. |
 |
LifeAct Lentiviral Vectors: Lentiviral vectors for easy generation of stable LifeAct-expressing cell lines. |
 |
mRNA LifeAct: A ready-to-use LifeAct-encoding mRNA with a GFP2 tag for the brilliant visualization of F-actin in living cells. |
 |
LifeAct-TagGFP2 Protein: A recombinant protein for remarkably fast staining and immediate functional analysis of F-actin in living and fixed cells. |
 |
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.