Genomics Core Facility- Instruments

Bio-Rad VersArray Colony Picker and Arrayer System

METHOD: The colony arrayer delivers high-throughput colony arrangement utilizing a standard 384-pin head in conjunction with petri plates and 384-well culture dishes . Alternative gridding capabilities are available as future options (96- or 768-pin heads, or gridding to various-sized membranes). The arrayer includes a computer, and user-friendly software featuring a custom-designed programming language and interface. More information can be obtained from the vendor's web site (http://www.bio-rad.com; see Related Links).

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS: The Versarray colony arrayer can grid, in as little as two hours, colonies harboring mutations representing most of the entire baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae) genome (4,800 non-essential genes). The primary technique involved, known as synthetic genetic array (SGA) analysis, is being used to improve functional genomic approaches for identification of whole genome interaction networks. The methodology can be applied to any array-based functional genomic or proteomic analysis, including mutation analysis, yeast two-hybrid screening, and impact of chemicals or chemical-genetic interactions. Thus far the robot has been successfully used to characterize yeast genes important in processes such as gene regulation, actin cytoskeletal function, and vacuolar and mitochondrial function. Most of the genes characterized have respective human homologs, and indeed, the foregoing procedure can be used to analyze the functional properties of any human protein having a respective yeast homolog. Likewise, the above procedure should be adaptable to any organism capable of forming colonies on agar plates (e.g. E. coli, Candida sp., etc.) or capable of growth in culture dishes.

CURRENT PRIMARY USERS: Drs. Amberg, Kane, Schmitt, Shen, and West (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department).

Users must be facility-approved (see "Rates" and "Training" side menus).