Main Laboratory

1-1. DNA workspace
This space is dedicated for DNA work such as genotyping of gene-targeted mice and analyzing for promoter regions of target genes. A well-trained laboratory research technician handle samples. He/She will extract genomic DNA from the snipped tails of gene-targeted mice and perform PCR. He/She will also set up agarose gel electrophoresis and report the final results to the corresponding investigators. Included major equipments are:

  • Applied Biosystems GeneAmp PCR System,
  • Fisher Scientific’s dual chamber water bath,
  • Sanyo’s microwave,
  • Fisher Scientific’s power supply,
  • Bio Rad’s horizontal agarose gel-electrophoresis system,
  • UVP’s ultraviolet transilluminator,
  • Fisher Scientific’s portable centrifuge machine, and
  • New Brunswick Scientific’s incubator shaker.
  • Biotrack II Plate washer & Jitterbug plate incubator/shaker

1-2. Western blot area
This space is dedicated for Western blot analysis. A well-trained laboratory research technician will handle samples. He/She will extract protein samples from human/rats/mouse samples or cells provided by the investigators. He/She will also set up polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and report the final results to the corresponding investigators. Included major equipments are:

1-3. Shared open space
This open space is shared as a pipetting station. Included major equipments are:

  • Eppendorf’s bench-top refrigerated centrifuge machine and
  • Denver Instrument’s high quality scale.

1-4. Histology/Immunohistochemistry workspace
This space is dedicated for histology/immunohistochemistry works. A well-trained laboratory research technician will handle samples. He/She will set up slide glasses of human/rats/mouse samples provided by the investigators. He/She will also perform histology and/or immunohistochemistry staining and return the stained slides to the corresponding investigators. Included major equipments are:

1-5. ELISA station
This space is dedicated for ELISA work. A well-trained laboratory research technician will handle samples. He/She will prepare protein samples for ELISA from human/rats/mouse samples provided by the investigators. He/She will also set up ELISA plates and report the final results to the corresponding investigators. Included major equipments are:

1-6. RNA workspace
This space is dedicated for RNA work such like RNA extraction and real-time RT-PCR. A well-trained laboratory research technician will handle samples. He/She will extract total RNA samples from human/rats/mouse samples or cells provided by the investigators using Qiagen’s robotic system. He/She will also set up real-time RT-PCR and report the final results to the corresponding investigators. Included major equipments are:

  • Qiagen’s BioRobot EZ1,
  • Amersham Biosciences’ GeneQuant spectrometer,
  • Fisher Scientific’s portable centrifuge machine and
  • Fisher Scientific’s tissue homogenizer.

1-7. Analytical equipment station
This space is dedicated for analytical equipments. Included major equipments are:

FYI: The following is brief description of some major equipment:

A) Licor’s Odyssey system
The Odyssey Infrared Imaging System (LI-COR) uses two completely independent detection channels - one for each infrared dye. Two diode lasers provide excitation light at 685 and 785 nm. Two avalanche photodiodes are filtered to detect fluorescence at 720 and 820 nm. Scans can be performed at resolutions ranging from 21 - 337 µm. Two detection channels allow us to probe two separate targets in the same experiment. Quantification accuracy is increased when the second color is used for normalization. Odyssey provides a flexible, multifunctional platform to accommodate a variety of applications such as ultra-rapid Western blots, in-gel Western, in-cell Western, ELISA/FLISA, electromobility shift assays, Northern blots, Southern blots, and in vivo imaging.

  • Allows for detection and quantification of various molecules using infra-red probes
  • Used in a wide range of applications from western blot analysis to whole animal molecular targeting


B) BMG Labtech's FLUOstar Optima multi-detection microplate reader
BMG Labtech's FLUOstar Optima multi-detection microplate reader can take care of:
   *   UV/Visible absorbance: ELISA, RNA determination, etc.
   *   Luminescence: Dual Luciferase assay
   *   Fluorescence: GFP, intracellular calcium, etc.

  • Multi-potential plate reader
  • UV/Visible absorbance; ELISA, colorimetric assays, RNA determination, etc.
  • Luminescence: Dual luciferase assay
  • Fluorescence: GFP, intracellular calcium, etc.

C) Qiagen’s BioRobot EZ1
The BioRobot EZ1 workstation (Qiagen) purifies high-quality nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) from tissues as well as from cells. From 1 to 6 samples are processed in 15-20 minutes. The rapid speed of nucleic acid purification is achieved through magnetic particle technology: nucleic acids in sample lysates are isolated in one step through their binding to the silica surface of magnetic particles. Reagents are supplied in pre-filled EZ1 Reagent Cartridges, which ensures speed and convenience in loading the BioRobot EZ1. Protocols for nucleic acid purification are supplied on pre-programmed EZ1 Cards.

These protocols provide both on-screen instructions for the operator and operating commands for the workstation. The range of kits and protocols for the BioRobot EZ1 is continuously expanding to allow nucleic acid purification from a wide range of sample types.

  • robotic system to extract DNA and RNA from tissues and cells
  • Up to 6 high quality DNA/RNA samples are ready within 20 min.

 

D) Dako Cytomation’s Autostainer
Dako Cytomation’s Autostainer for immunohistochemistry robot can take care of up to 48 slices in one run, which is required to do immunohistochemistry in a semi- quantitative manner. Moreover, we can apply individual conditions on each slide - different antibody concentration and different incubation time, which saves significant time to optimize the immunohistochemistry condition.

  • Allows for automatic staining for histological and immunohistochemical slides
  • Up to 48 slides are stained with separated condition or exactly same condition
  • This setup is essential to perform semi-quantitative analysis of tissue slides

 

E) Biotrak II Plate Washer and the Jitterbug Plate Incubator /Shaker

Used in combination with the plate reader

 

 

 

F) Alpha Innotech Fluorchem

Uses include visualization and densitometric analysis of western blot membranes and films, and DNA gels

 

 

 

 

G) Strategene Mx3000P Real-Time QRT-PCR

Allows for the amplication and quantification of mRNA extracted from tissues and cells