Obesity refers to the condition of having more than average fatness that is different from being overweight, which is the condition of having too much weight. This increase in weight mostly comes from bone, muscle, fat, and body water. Obesity is a global problem, and its prevalence has approximately doubled between 1980 and 2008. Nearly, 2.8 million people die annually due to the problem of being overweight or obese (World Health Organization (WHO), (n.d.). Australia has reportedly highest rates of obesity in the world. Nearly quarter of the children in Australia and 63% of the adult population are overweight as reported in the journal The Lancet (The University of Western Australia, 2014). Australia is considered to be on the same obesity level as that of the U.S., but it is slightly lower than New Zealand. So, it is important find the problems related or obesity.
The bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay is a biochemical assay that was invented by Paul K. Smith from the Pierce Chemical Company. It is used to determine the amount of protein in solution (Thermo Scientific, 2011). The concentration of protein is shown by the transformation of the test solution from green color to purple color according to the concentration of protein. This change in color is then measured with the help of colorimetric techniques. BCA assay can help in the study of important proteins and hormones that are associated with obesity such as adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, leptin, and resistin. This technique is also helpful in the study of protein to protein interactions, calculation of percentage recovery of membrane proteins extracted from cells, and high-throughput screening of fusion proteins.
The ImageXpress Micro XLS High-Content Analysis System consists of a widefield automated microscope that is capable of fluorescent, and phase-contrast fixed-end point imaging, and time-lapse live-cell assays. In this device, transmitted light option helps in performing live cell imaging without the use of any toxic nuclear stains. With the help of this device, growth, differentiation, death, and migration of cells can be studied in tissues. This technique can help in the study of cells and tissues that are related to the release of proteins or hormones (as mentioned before) involved in obesity. It can also help in the study of small organisms. Moreover, it can be used for 3D imaging of cancer spheroids, RNA interference, stem cell research, and homogenous binding assay (Molecular Devices, n.d.).
References
Molecular Devices (n.d.). ImageXpress Micro XLS Widefield High-Content Analysis System. Retrieved from http://www.moleculardevices.com/systems/high-content-imaging/imagexpress-micro-xls-widefield-high-content-analysis-system
World Health Organization (WHO) (n.d.). Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/obesity_text/en/
The University of Western Australia (2014). Global study shows obesity rates climbing worldwide. Retrieved from http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201405306715/international/global-study-shows-obesity-rates-climbing-worldwide
Thermo Scientific (2011). BCA Protein Assay Reagent (bicinchoninic acid). Retrieved from http://www.piercenet.com/product/bca-protein-assay
