About the QGCL

Nucleic Acids
The Quantitative Genomics Core Laboratory (QGCL) was established in 1999 to provide high-throughput gene and transcript quantification capability using “real-time” quantitative PCR. The QGCL supports quantitative real-time RNA or DNA measurements using the ABI Sequence Detector Systems technology based on Taqman® chemistry. For more information on the Taqman® assay and published reviews describing the many aspects its’ implementation, click the link to view the references.

The QGCL has 2-7700 and 1-7900 Applied Biosystems Sequence Detector instruments configured in either a 96-well plate format (ABI 7700s) or 384-well plate format (ABI 7900). Samples are processed and assay plates assembled utilizing two robotic liquid handling workstations, a Tecan Genesis 100 and a Beckman Biomek 2000. Both robots are capable of loading either 96- or 384-well plates in a timely manner with great precision. The laboratory includes 3 MJR thermocyclers for running the reverse transcription reactions, 2-PTC-100s for 96-well plates and a dual block DYAD for 96 or 384-well plates.

Proteins
The QGCL has recently installed a Meso Scale electrochemi-luminescence reader. This instrument is capable of reading up to 10 different sandwich ELISA assays per well on a 96-well plate format. A chemiluminescent signal is generated following the application of a current to the plate. Many different kits are available from Meso Scale (www.mesoscale.com) containing assay-specific antibodies bound in a pattern in each well, second antibodies, protein for making a standard curve for quantification and read buffer. Assays are quantitative over a 4-log range of template concentration. Investigators can either have the assays setup using our robotics and read for them or prepare their own plates and read them on the instrument.

The QGCL is staffed by a highly skilled technician with over 11 years experience in setting up real-time qPCR assays. The director of the Core Laboratory has extensive (7 11 years) experience in the design, development, application and interpretation of real-time qPCR assays and data. The QGCL has a roster of approximately 2450 established assays.