The OSUCCC – James Nucleic Acid Shared Resource (NASR) provides genomic support for biomedical research, including Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, genotyping, methylation and gene-expression analysis. Recently, the facility extended its next-generation sequencing by adding an Ion PGM Sequencer (Life Technologies) and its gene expression analytical capabilities with a QuantStudio™ 12K Flex system. New applications were added to the nCounter System (NanoString Technologies).
Ion PGM Sequencer
The NASR introduced the Ion PGM Sequencer in early 2012. Life Technologies’ Ion Torrent is based on electrical detection (i.e., pH change) of base extension.
The Ion PGM sequencer is ideal for sequencing genes, small genomes and panels of genes, or for performing gene expression profiling. Total workflow, from DNA to sequence, takes about eight hours for 200 base-reads on an Ion 314 Chip. Three Ion semiconductor chips are available: The Ion 314, the Ion 316 and the Ion 318 (stated output, 10 megabases, 100 megabases and 1 gigabase of sequence data, respectively).
Gene Expression Analysis
The QuantStudio™ 12K Flex system A new QuantStudio™ 12K Flex system adds extra capacity to the NASR’s three Applied Biosystems 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR Systems and its two Applied Biosystems StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR Systems. Extra capacity will be reflected in the OpenArray format for effortless scaling from 1 to 12,000 data points in a single run and the simple OpenArray workflow, including the Accufill System.
New Counter Applications
NanoString’s nCounter technology detects target molecules using color-coded molecular barcodes, providing a digital count of target molecules. The NASR has added two new applications to its nCounter system:
- miRGE analysis: Permits profiling of 100-200 mRNA targets and 5-30 miRNA targets in a single reaction.
- nCounter single-cell expression assay: Provides ultra-sensitive, reproducible and highly multiplexed gene-expression profiling from single cells or with as little as 10pg of total RNA. The assay linearly amplifies up to 800 target transcripts from a single cell in a single tube without bias.
Please visit the NASR for more information or send an email to Hansjuerg.Alder@osumc.edu.