Molecular Analysis

AFP X-Ray Film Processor

The facility houses a Fisher Futura 4000M automated film developing system for X-ray film processing.

 

BioRad BioPlex

Description - The BioPlex system is a multiplex analysis system that permits the simultaneous analysis of up to 100 different biomolecules (proteins, peptides, or nucleic acids) in a single microplate well. By multiplexing with the Bio-Plex system, researchers can dramatically increase the amount of useful information from rare or volume-limited samples such as mouse or rat serum, and decipher complex interrelationships among proteins involved in signal transduction pathways. The microplate platform allows the automated analysis of 96-well plates with a throughput of more than 1,800 assay points (for a 23–plex assay) in 30 minutes. The Bio-Plex suspension array is built around three core technologies:

• The first is the family of fluorescently dyed microspheres, or beads, from Luminex Corp.
• The second is a flow cytometer with two lasers and associated optics to measure biochemical reactions that occur on the surface of the microspheres.
• The third is a high-speed digital signal processor to efficiently manage the fluorescent output.

Applications-

• Multiplex analysis of cytokines and phoshoproteins with prepared kits available from BioRad
• Multiplex analysis of a variety of proteins by conjugating antibodies to beads via kits available from BioRad

Location- The BioPlex system is located in the Building 1 Room B60 lab of the IRF.

Website- www.Biorad.com

 

Kodak Image Station 2000MM

Description- The Kodak ISM 2000MM is a fluorescence based molecular imaging station equipped with long wavelength full field illumination. Depending on available filters placed in the system green to near IR excitation and emission can be used for imaging luminescent, fluorescent, radiographic and colorimetric labeled biomolecules in a variety of formats including membranes, electrophoresis gels, plates and tissues.

• Available excitation filters are for wavelengths of 465nm, 535nm and 620nm. Corresponding emission filters are for 533nm, 600nm and 700nm.
• Kodak 1 D Image Analysis Software

Applications- Documentation and analysis of:

• DNA, RNA and protein electrophoresis gels
• Southern, Northern and Western blots
• Dot and Slot blots
• Microplate assays
• Macro Arrays
• Automated cell colony counting
• Plaque screening
• Thin layer chromatography

Location- The ISM2000MM is located in Building 1 Room B51.

Website- www.jaewootr.com/kodak/ISM2000MM/is2000mm.html

 

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer

Description- The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer is a microfluidics based platform for the analysis of DNA, RNA, proteins and cells. The lab-on-a-chip based system is designed for rapid, automated, digital acquisition and analysis of data.

Applications-

• Optimization of PCR reactions for gene expression, sequencing, cloning and typing
• Quality control analysis for ribosomal RNA contamination in mRNA prior to microarray analysis
• DNA and RNA LabChip kits for quality control of probes and targets
• Analysis of RNA integrity
• Protein 200 Plus Lab Chip assay for rapidly (30 minutes or less) quantifying and sizing protein samples
• Protein analysis in cell lysate samples
• Analysis of protein purity
• Quality control for analysis of antibodies

Location- The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer is located in the Building 1 Room B60 lab of the IRF.

Website- www.chem.agilent.com

 

Thermo Electron Corporation Finnigan LCQ Mass Spectrometer

Description- The LCQ is an analytical instrument that includes a syringe pump, and divert/inject valve, API ion source anda mass spectrometer (MS) detector. Following introduction of the sample to the liquid chromatography (LC) column it is separated into its various components. The components elute from the LC column and pass into the MS detector where they are analyzed. The IRF system is also equipped with:

• Masstech MALDI ionization source for high sensitivity MALDI-MS
• Microtech Scientific Micropump module
• Xcalibur software

Applications-

• Identification of unknown compounds
• Trace analysis and confirmation of target compounds

Location- The LCQ system is located in Building 1 Room B60 lab of IRF

Website- http://www.thermo.com

 

BioRad iCycler iQ Real Time PCR System

Description- Real time PCR, in conjunction with the appropriate fluorescent detection strategies, allows the initial amount of nucleic acid in a reaction to be determined. Advances in the technology have led to significant improvements in the accuracy of DNA quantitation and gene expression analysis. Quantitation is achieved by measuring the increase in fluorescence during the exponential phase of the PCR reaction. The system in the IRF is equipped for:

• Three color analysis for amplification of three dependant targets
• Taqman, Sybr Green, primer based system and molecular beacon analyses
• Multiple sample block formats for 0.2ml tubes, 96 well plates and 384 well PCR plates
• Real time display of data acquisition

Applications-

• Quantitative comparison of genes of interest in housekeeping genes in a single sample
• Quantitative detection of gene expression in genetically modified organisms
• Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
• When used in conjunction with laser capture microdissection, real time PCR provides an excellent technique for comparison of genetic expression in specific cell types such as cancer vs. normal cells from a single region of tissue.

Location- The BioRad iCycler iQ Real Time PCR System is located in the Building 1 Room B60 laboratory of the IRF.

Website- www.BioRad.com

 

Arcturus PixCell IIE Laser Capture Microdissection

Description- The Pixcell IIE laser capture microdissection system is designed for the isolation of specific cell types or regions of tissue from sections of tissues processed by paraffin embedding or cryo-sectioning. This allows for the molecular analysis and comparison of pure populations of cells or specific regions of tissures. The IRF LCM system is equipped with:

• Olympus MO81 inverted microscope platform
• 4X and 10X Uplan F1 and 20X and 40X LCPlan FL objectives
• Infrared laser
• Red and green fluorescence capabilities

Applications-

• Analysis of cell surface antigens and biomarkers
• Immunophenotyping of cells for stem cell and hematopoietic cell lineage studies
• Hematology
• Cell size and granularity
• Apoptosis, necrosis and live/dead cell assays
• Cell cycle studies
• DNA analyses vb

Location- The Pixcell IIE LCM system is located at the South Carolina Cancer Center

Website- www.arctur.com

 

Beckman Coulter Epics XL-MCL Flow Cytometer

Description- The Epics XL FACS system is designed for qualitative and quantitative measurement of biological and physical properties of cells and fluorescent particles. The system in the IRF is equipped with:

• Air cooled 15mW argon ion laser operating at 488nm
• Optical filters for four color analysis of samples
• Adjustable flow rates
• System II and EXPO 32 software programs

Location- The Epics XL is located in the Building 1 Basement lab of the IRF.

Website- www.beckmancoulter.com

 

DakoCytomation MoFlo Sterile Cell Sorter

Description- The MoFlo high performance cell sorter is a modular flow cytometer capable of sorting up to 70,000 events per second while maintaining viability and function of cells for further culture. This makes it the ideal system for separating rate cells or events, such as stem cells that often represent fewer than 1% of the total cells in a large population.

• Water cooled Coherent Enterprise II 621 laser (UV through 488 excitation values)
• Melles Griot LHP HeNe laser
• 4 way sort capability
• SortMaster and CyCLONE software packages
• 14 potential detectors/PMTs
• Filter sets: 488 (SSC, FITC, PE, PI); MLUV set for DAPI, Hoescht; MLUV set for INDO-1; HeNe set
• Fluidics with 50mm, 70mm and 100mm Cytonozzles

Application-

• Analysis of cell surface antigens and biomarkers
• Immunophenotyping of cells for stem cell and hematopoietic cell lineage studies
• Hematology
• Cell size and granularity
• Apoptosis, necrosis and live/dead cell assays
• Cell cycle studies
• DNA analyses
• Stem Cell Sorting- 4way sort capability
• Cell viability and Function Assays
• FRET Applications

Location- The MoFlo system is located in the Building 1 Basement lab of the IRF.

Website- www.dakocytomation.us

 

BioRad Molecular Imager FX

Description- The FX is an isotopic and fluorescent imaging system capable of collecting and analyzing radioisotope emission, chemiluminescence and fluorescence data

• Dectection of 32P, 33P, 35S, 14C, 3H, and 125I, HRP-activated chemiluminescent substrates and fluorescence using phosphor screen technology
• Dual wavelenght 532 and 1064 internal laser
• Scan resolutions of 800, 200, 100 and 50 microns
• Analysis with Quantity One Software

Applications-

• Scans phosphor screens, gels, blots, microtiter plates, high density arrays
• Imaging and quantitation of a broad range of sample types over a large dynamic range

Location- The FX is located in Building 1 Room B51

Website- www.BioRad.com