Shared Instrumentation Facility

The ChemiDoc MP imager is used for imaging and analyzing gels and western blots. It is capable of multiplex fluorescent western blotting, chemiluminescence detection, general gel documentation applications, and stain-free imaging.

Specifications:

• Illumination sources: Trans-UV, 302 nm excitation; Epi-white; Trans-white; Trans-blue, 450−490 nm excitation; Epi-blue, 460−490 nm excitation; Epi-green, 520−545 nm excitation; Epi-red, 625−650 nm excitation; Epi-far red, 650−675 nm excitation; Epi-near IR, 755−777 nm excitation
• Filters: 590/110; Chemiluminescence filter; 518–546 nm; 577–613 nm; 675–725 nm; 700–730 nm; 813–860 nm
• 4 orders of magnitude dynamic range
• Autofocus
• 6 Megapixel CCD camera
• Maximum image area – 21 x 16.8 cm
• Flat field image correction

Applications:

• Fluorescent gels and blots
• Near-infrared gels and blots
• Chemiluminescent gels and blots
• Stain-free gels and blots
• Coomassie blue, copper, silver, zinc stains
• SYBR or GelGreen stains
• Ethidium bromide
• Nucleic acid gels
• Protein gels
• Western blots

The Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer provides live cell, real-time analysis of cellular energy metabolism platform in a 96-well format.

Specifications:

• 5000-25000 cells/well
• Four port injection system
• Automated mixing
• 96-well format
• Requires Agilent consumables
• Assay running volume – 160-300 µL/well
• Available assay wells – 92
• Assay temperature – 16 to 42° C

Applications:

• Cellular energy metabolism studies
• Phenotyping screening
• 2D culture
• Spheroids
• Oxygen consumption rate (OCR)
• ATP
• Proton efflux rate (PER)
• Extracellular acidification rate (ECAR)

The Typhoon RGB is a laser scanning imager used for high-resolution imaging of visible fluorescence or phosphor imaging.

Specifications:

• Fluorescence imaging of blue, green, and red channels
• Phosphor imaging
• Lasers available – 488, 532, 635 nm
• 5 orders of magnitude dynamic range
• PMT detectors
• Minimum pixel resolution of 10 µm
• Scanning area – 40 x 46 cm
• Fluorescence emission filters available
  • Cy2 bandpass – 515 to 535 nm
  • Cy3 bandpass – 560 to 580 nm
  • Cy5 bandpass – 655 to 685 nm
  • Cy2 longpass – 515 nm cut-on
  • Cy3 longpass – 550 nm cut-on
  • Cy5 longpass – 660 nm cut-on
• Compatible with gels, slides, or multiwell plates

Applications:

• Red, green, blue fluorescence imaging
• Phosphor imaging
• Densitometry (OD)
• Imaging of Northern, Southern, and Western blots
• Colorimetric samples, such as Coomassie blue and silver stain
• Gel imaging
• Membrane imaging
• Radioisotope imaging
• 2D DIGE
• Gel shift assays (EMSA)
• Microarray imaging

The SpectraMax iD3 plate reader can measure absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence in multi-well plates.

Specifications:

• Absorbance: 230 - 1000 nm
• Fluorescence ex: 250 - 830 nm; em: 270 - 850 nm
• Luminescence: 300 - 850 nm
• Monochromator tunable in 1 nm wavelengths
• Temperature control
• Plate shaking
• Compatible with 6-384 well plates

Applications:

• Absorbance
• Fluorescence (top/bottom read)
• Luminescence (top read)
• DNA/RNA/protein quantification
• ELISA
• Endpoint reads
• Kinetic reads
• Spectrum reads
• Well scanning

Three QuantStudio Flex 7 real-time PCRs are available for training and use.  Two are compatible with 96-well plates, and one is compatible with 384-well plates.  Real-time PCR, also known as qPCR, is used for amplification and quantification of nucleic acids using a fluorescent reporter.  Measurements can be done over time, instead of only at an end point. 

Specifications:

• Up to six targets per well
• Compatible with 96-well or 384-plates, depending on instrument
• Calibrated for these fluorescent dyes – FAM, Ned, VIC, ROX, TAMRA, SYBR Green, Mustang Purple, Cy5, Aby, Jun

Applications:

• Gene expression
• miRNA profiling
• SNP genotyping
• Copy number variation
• Protein thermal shift
• High resolution melt
• Pathogen detection
• Pharmacogenomics

The Cryostar NX50 cryostat is used for thick and thin sectioning of frozen, embedded specimens.

Specifications:

• 0.5 – 100 µm sections
• Cryobar for rapid sample cooling
• Specimen temperature from -45° to 10° C
• Anti-roll plate
• Uses low profile, 34°/80 mm blades

The SeqStudio genetic analyzer provides benchtop, low-throughput Sanger DNA sequencing. Fragment analysis can be run in the same plate with the same workflow as sequencing with no instrument reconfiguration. The SeqStudio cartridges require no calibration and include the capillary array, anode buffer, and polymer.

Specifications:

• Requires SeqStudio cartridges
• 4 capillaries
• 6 dyes, compatible with these dye sets – E, Z, D (DS-30, DS-31), F (DS-32), G5 (DS-33), J6 (DS-36), any dye (up to 6 dyes) with custom setup
• Uses POP-1 universal polymer
• Up to 125 injections/500 reactions or 250 injections/1000 reactions, depending on cartridge used
• Compatible with 96-well plates and 8 tube strips

Applications:

• De novo, targeted, and plasmid Sanger sequencing
• CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing confirmation
• Cell line authentication
• Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
• Fragment analysis
• SNaPShot genotyping
• Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis of human copy number variation

The Kingfisher Flex is a benchtop automated extraction system used for medium- to high-throughput extraction and purification of DNA, RNA, proteins, and cells.

Specifications:

• Requires Kingfisher 96-well deep plates and 96-well microtiter plates
• 8 plate slots
• Protocols can be downloaded and stored to instrument computer 

Applications:

• Extraction and purification of DNA, RNA, proteins, and cells
• Nucleic acid isolation

The Odyssey CLx imager collects images of gels and blots that use near-infrared fluorophores.  Its wide dynamic range allows for detection of strong and weak bands without multiple exposures.

Specifications:

• Fluorescence imaging of near-infrared dyes
• Lasers available – 685 nm and 785 nm
• 6 orders of magnitude dynamic range
• Avalanche photodiode detectors
• Minimum pixel resolution of 21 µm
• Scanning area – 25 x 25 cm
• Scanning speed – 5-40 cm/s
• Shortpass filter < 750 nm
• Longpass filter > 810 nm
• Compatible with gels or multi-well plates

Applications:

• Infrared imaging
• Fluorescent Western blots
• Multi-well plate assays
• Viral titration assays
• Nucleic acid gels
• EMSA/gel shift assay
• Glycoprotein staining
• Protein arrays
• Colorimetric gels, such as Coomassie blue