Equipment in the Biomolecular Research Facility

Instruments in DNA Sciences

Illumina Genome Analyzer II for: whole chromosomes targeted studies of genomic regions whole genomes BACs

ABI 3730 DNA Analyzer DNA sequencing

ABI Prism® 7900HT Sequence Detection System for real time PCR measurements

Affymetrix Gene Chip System 

for studying changes in gene expression
	fluidics station for washing chips
hybridization oven	chip scanner

  

Agilent BioAnalyzer

Molecular Devices Gemini fluorescent plate reader (fluorometer)
can quantitate DNA with PicoGreen
More information in Shared Instrumentation section

Equipment in the Mass Spectrometry Core

Thermo Fourier transform mass spectrometer with Finnigan LTQ front end

Electrospray ionization for sample introduction. Linear ion trap and Fourier transform ICR mass analyzers. This instrument has very high accuracy and a wide dynamic range and thus gives better quantitation than the LTQ alone.

  

Bruker MicroFlex MALDI for intact peptide and protein measurements

This instrument measures masses of intact molecules. Sample preparation is usually relatively simple so this instrument is the first choice to obtain the mass of a molecule.

Thermo and Agilent HPLC systems coupled to above mass spectrometers

Equipment available for protein analysis

The Biomolecular Research Facility has equipment which is either not commonly found in individual laboratories or is needed only occasionally by some laboratories. Some equipment is operated by facility personnel, and some is used by individual researchers. Contact John Shannon ph. 3-9399 about use of the equipment listed below.

Molecular Dynamics Gemini EM Spectramax Fluorescent plate reader

For fluorescence readings of plates with 96, 24, 12, 6 well microtiter plates. Dual monochromator optics. Can perform some luminescence readings. Does not perform absorbance readings. Operated by researcher. Fee for use. Contact person John Shannon  ph. 3-9399

High performance liquid chromatography.

• ABI 140 for 1 and 2 mm diameter columns
• Beckman System Gold for 4.6, 10, 22 mm diameter columns.
• Dionex Ultimate for 0.3 mm diameter columns. Detection by variable wavelength UV detector.

Used for separation of peptides, proteins and some other molecules,  usually with  reverse phase columns.
Contact people: John Shannon or Linda Beggerly  4-2869

Medium pressure chromatography using FPLC

• Amersham AKTA FPLC, detection at 280 nm (or 260 nm), with a Frac-100 fraction collector.
• gel filtration, ion exchange, for separation of proteins and peptides

Contact person: John Shannon  ph. 3-9399

AVIV 410 Circular dichroism spectropolarimeter

For studies on tertiary structure of proteins. Operated by researcher. Fee for use Contact person:John Shannon  ph. 3-9399

 

Gel scanners

• Bio-Rad GS800 for absorbance readings on gels or blots at visible wavelengths.  Three wavelengthtfilters for different stains.
• Bio-Rad FX fluorescent scanner. Three lasers and five filters to cover common fluorescent stains.
• Both scanners produce files which can be converted to 8 or 16 bit tiff files.

Bio-Rad Proteome Works Spot Cutter

allows automated cutting of gel plugs and cutting of gel plugs from gels stained with Sypro Ruby dye

Biacore 3000 for biomolecule interactions

Contact person:John Shannon  ph. 3-9399

Isoelectric Focusing apparatus

• Amersham apparatus for 18 cm strips
• Bio-Rad Protean IEF cell for 11, 17, 25 cm strips
• user operated

Protein Solutions DynaPro dynamic light scattering

contact person: John Shannon  ph. 3-9399