LuminoCell: a versatile and affordable platform for real-time monitoring of luciferase-based reporters.

Luciferase reporter assays represent a simple and sensitive experimental system in cell and molecular biology to study multiple biological processes. However, the application of these assays is often limited by the costs of conventional luminometer instruments and the versatility of their use in different experimental conditions. Therefore, we aimed to develop a small, affordable luminometer allowing continuous measurement of luciferase activity, designed for inclusion into various kinds of tissue culture incubators. Here, we introduce LuminoCell-an open-source platform for the construction of an affordable, sensitive, and portable luminometer capable of real-time monitoring in-cell luciferase activity. The LuminoCell costs $40, requires less than 1 h to assemble, and it is capable of performing real-time sensitive detection of both magnitude and duration of the activity of major signalling pathways in cell cultures, including receptor tyrosine kinases (EGF and FGF), WNT/ß-catenin, and NF-κB. In addition, we show that the LuminoCell is suitable to be used in cytotoxicity assays as well as for monitoring periodic circadian gene expression.

New chromosome counts and genome size estimates for 28 species of Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum.

The species-rich and widespread genus Taraxacum F. H. Wiggers, 1780 (Asteraceae subfamily Cichorioideae) is one of the most taxonomically complex plant genera in the world, mainly due to its combination of different sexual and asexual reproduction strategies. Polyploidy is usually confined to apomictic microspecies, varying from 3x to 6x (rarely 10x). In this study, we focused on Taraxacum sect. Taraxacum (= T.sect.Ruderalia; T.officinale group), i.e., the largest group within the genus. We counted chromosome numbers and measured the DNA content for species sampled in Central Europe, mainly in Czechia. The chromosome number of the 28 species (T.aberrans Hagendijk, Soest & Zevenbergen, 1974, T.atroviride Stepánek & Trávnícek, 2008, T.atrox Kirschner & Stepánek, 1997, T.baeckiiforme Sahlin, 1971, T.chrysophaenum Railonsala, 1957, T.coartatum G.E. Haglund, 1942, T.corynodes G.E. Haglund, 1943, T.crassum H. Øllgaard & Trávnícek, 2003, T.deltoidifrons H. Øllgaard, 2003, T.diastematicum Marklund, 1940, T.gesticulans H. Øllgaard, 1978, T.glossodon Sonck & H. Øllgaard, 1999, T.guttigestans H. Øllgaard in Kirschner & Stepánek, 1992, T.huelphersianum G.E. Haglund, 1935, T.ingens Palmgren, 1910, T.jugiferum H. Øllgaard, 2003, T.laticordatum Marklund, 1938, T.lojoense H. Lindberg, 1944 (= T.debrayi Hagendijk, Soest & Zevenbergen, 1972, T.lippertianum Sahlin, 1979), T.lucidifrons Trávnícek, ineditus, T.obtusifrons Marklund, 1938, T.ochrochlorum G.E. Haglund, 1942, T.ohlsenii G.E. Haglund, 1936, T.perdubium Trávnícek, ineditus, T.praestabile Railonsala, 1962, T.sepulcrilobum Trávnícek, ineditus, T.sertatum Kirschner, H. Øllgaard & Stepánek, 1997, T.subhuelphersianum M.P. Christiansen, 1971, T.valens Marklund, 1938) is 2n = 3x = 24. The DNA content ranged from 2C = 2.60 pg (T.atrox) to 2C = 2.86 pg (T.perdubium), with an average value of 2C = 2.72 pg. Chromosome numbers are reported for the first time for 26 species (all but T.diastematicum and T.obtusifrons), and genome size estimates for 26 species are now published for the first time.