Welcome to Nature Protocols
Nature Protocols is an online resource for protocols, including authoritative, peer-reviewed 'Nature Protocols' and an interactive 'Protocols Network'. The two create a dynamic forum for scientists to upload and comment on protocols.
Featured Protocols
Spectroscopy and structural analysis
Stretching polysaccharides on live cells using single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS)FREESMFS can probe the adhesion and mechanics of polysaccharides and proteins on live cells. This protocol describes how to analyze polysaccharide chains on the bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, but can be easily modified for use on other cells.
Nanotechnology
On-wire lithography: synthesis, encoding and biological applicationsThis protocol describes how to synthesize nanowires, generate gaps in the nanowires of 2 nm by chemical etching and how to add small molecules or nucleic acids. The resulting functionalized nanowires can then be characterized using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Microbiology and virology
Modeling human listeriosis in natural and genetically engineered animalsThis protocol from the Lecuit lab describes how to set up and analyze animal models of listeria infection; the entire procedure (from inoculation to histopathology) can be completed in a week.
Genetic analysis
Microarray selection of genomic intervals for massively parallel sequencingThis protocol describes a re-sequencing approach to provide further information about genomic regions of interest by combining microarray hybridization-based purification of multi-megabase sections with massively parallel sequencing.
Biochemistry and protein analysis
Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Initiated Detection and Sequencing (MIDAS)This protocol describes a sensitive mass spectrometric (MS) method for hypothesis-driven detection of peptide post-translational modifications. Multiple Reaction Monitoring searches for all putative peptides specifically modified in a target protein. An MS/MS experiment is then triggered to confirm the nature and site of the modification.
Protocols Network
There are various ways you can contribute:
Upload your own lab protocols for further feedback and refinement
Discuss techniques in our discussion forum
Highlights from the network
- mRNA expression analysis by Real-Time PCR
- Generation of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs)
- Generation of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BM-MFs)
- Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cell culture
- Real-Time calcium transient measurement in mouse dendritic cells stimulated with LPS or ATP
- A protocol to detect apoptotic dendritic cells in murine lymph nodes using multiphoton microscopy
- Co-immunoprecipitation of Platelet Factor 4 and RANTES from human platelets
- Two-group comparison of gene signatures: failure of conventional statistical methods and validation of a novel algorithm
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Comment on published Nature Protocols, or protocols submitted by other researchers