Bucknell University 3 articles published in JoVE Biochemistry Continuous Fluorescence-Based Endonuclease-Coupled DNA Methylation Assay to Screen for DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors Rebecca Switzer1, Katie A. Ward2, Jessica Medrano2 1Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 2Program in Cell Biology/Biochemistry, Bucknell University DNA methyltransferases are potential cancer drug targets. Here, a protocol is presented to assess small molecules for DNA methyltransferase inhibition. This assay utilizes an endonuclease to couple DNA methylation to fluorescence generation and allows for enzyme activity to be monitored in real time. Chemistry Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides Tyler J. Fulton1, Katherine M. Townsend2, Michael R. Krout2 1Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University A simple and practical protocol for the efficient conjugate addition of functionalized monoorganozinc bromides to cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyls to furnish all-carbon quaternary centers was developed. Developmental Biology Micromanipulation of Chromosomes in Insect Spermatocytes Nicolas K.H. Lin1, Ryder Nance2, Jane Szybist2, Alan Cheville2, Leocadia V. Paliulis3 1Program in Cell Biology/Biochemistry, Bucknell University, 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bucknell University, 3Biology Department, Bucknell University In this protocol, we describe the selection and preparation of appropriate cells for micromanipulation and the use of a piezoelectric micromanipulator to reposition chromosomes within those cells.