The Core provides equipment and expertise to assist investigators in screening chemical compound libraries using cell-based assays and automated fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for cell biology and biochemistry. It can provide information about subsets of cells and about structures, molecules and proteins within cells. In the past, the potential of this technique for providing the drug screener with this same wealth of information was limited by the inability to automate the process. Recent advances in instrumentation and software now make automated fluorescence imaging a practical tool in screening and drug discovery.

Facilities

The facility currently has a Discovery-1 High Content Screening System from Universal Imaging Corporation. For sample preparation, the facility has a Titertek Multidrop 384 Dispenser and a Bio-Tek ELx405 Select Plate Washer. For data storage and analysis, the facility has a dual-monitor Dell Workstation running MetaMorph Image Processing and Analysis Software and 450GB of OAC supported server space.

Services

• Consultation: Consultation on experimental design and the availability of chemical compound libraries.
• Screening: The facility can acquire images of cells stained with fluorescent or visible dyes in 24, 96, 384, or 1536-well microplates. A wide variety of fluorophores from UV to IR plus transmitted light can be imaged. Up to 16 different sites per well and as many as 45 plates can be screened automatically per run.
• Data Analysis: After data acquisition, analysis can be performed on our offline workstation or at any computer running the MetaMorph screening software.
• Sample Preparation: Preparation of assay plates, including dispensing of cells and reagents and washing the plates, can be performed using facility equipment.
• Training: The facility director will provide training in the use of the Discovery-1 screening system, the sample preparation equipment and the analysis software.