Cell Media Facility

MICROPLATE LUMINOMETER

The luminometer allows one to analyze, in a biological system, the activities of large numbers of compounds generated by combinatorial approaches. Luminometers, which are in widespread use in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, rely on the fact that a wide variety of cellular functions have now been coupled to easy-to-assay light-based reporter systems. Consequently, it is possible to analyze large numbers of combinatorially-synthesized compounds for biological properties of interest. A microplate luminometer paired with the exceptional sensitivity of these assays, allows one to process several hundred samples in a short period of time. Microplate luminometers also find substantial application in the identification of new biologically-active natural products. By coupling functions, such as cell growth to the assay system, it is possible to assay hundreds of column fractions and samples, greatly speeding up the process of locating compounds with the desired biological properties.

The Luminoskan is located in 490 RAL and is available to trained users 24 hours a day. 96-well assay plates may be purchased at cost ($2.00) in 491 RAL. Training is provided upon request.

PHOSPHORIMAGER

Autoradiography using storage phosphor technology overcomes 2 limitations which are inherent to conventional film-based autoradiography, poor sensitivity and a limited nonlinear dynamic range. Instead of film, a radioactive gel or blot is exposed in a light-proof cassette to a photostimulable storage phosphor imaging plate. High energy radiation excites electrons in the plate resulting in an absorption band around 600nm. Scanning of the plate with a helium-neon laser (633nm) reduces the electrons back to ground state with the subsequent release of a photon at 390nm. The intensity of the resulting luminescence is recorded and stored as a digital image. The image may be viewed on the monitor and quantified using ImageQuant software. Unlike film, imaging plates are reusable. They are easily erased for subsequent use with bright visible light.

The Molecular Dynamics phosphorimager and workstation computer are housed in 490 RAL and available to trained users 24 hours a day. The facility has 4 imaging cassettes which may be borrowed for a small daily fee.