Overview

    A new Molecular Devices ImageXpress Ultra Confocal Imaging System, the central resource of the SRF, is equipped with four solid-state lasers  (405nm, 488nm, 561nm and 635nm) capable of exciting a wide variety of commonly-used fluorophores in parallel.  This system, in combination with feature-recognition software (MetaXpress; Molecular Devices) and informatics software (AcuityXpress; Molecular Devices) permits the evaluation, in a 96-or 384-well format, of libraries of compounds or siRNA reagents.  Primary image data are archived on an independent server equipped with four terabytes of local storage.  Data are subsequently analyzed on one of three independent analysis workstations.  The server and analysis workstations are connected to the primary data-collection system by a gigabit LAN connection to allow real time archiving and analysis of data as they are collected.   Additionally, the facility offers access to a Perkin Elmer Fusion ratiometric plate fluorometer/luminometer that permits high-throughput assays using spectroscopic reporters, including FRET-based probes.   Finally, automated pipetting is carried out using a Perkin Elmer JANUS 8-channel liquid handler and a Thermo Combi liquid dispenser.  System integration is handled by a Thermo/Fisher CataLyst Express plate mover under the control of Polara scheduling software (Thermo/Fisher).  Together, this system is able to carry out automated pipetting/experimental setup, data collection and analysis for multiple experiments in parallel.

Hardware ... in progress

Software ... in progress

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