Automated system for two-dimensional electrophoresis
AssigneeLarge Scale Proteomics Corporation
InventorsN. Leigh Anderson, Norman G. Anderson, Jack Goodman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an integrated, fully automated, high-throughput system for two-dimensional electrophoresis comprised of gel-making machines, gel processing machines, gel compositions and geometries, gel handling systems, sample preparation systems, software and methods. The system is capable of continuous operation at high-throughput to allow construction of large quantitative data sets.
Claims27
A computer-assisted method for selecting and directing the isolation of one or more biomolecules present in a two-dimensional array, comprising:
- a purification step, wherein a plurality of biomolecules of interest are substantially isolated from a first biological sample;
- a first separation step, wherein said biomolecules are separated according to a first physical or chemical property to form a one-dimensional array of biomolecules;
- a second separation step, wherein said one-dimensional array of biomolecules is separated according to a second physical or chemical property to form said two-dimensional array;
- imaging said two-dimensional array or a replica thereof to generate a computer-readable output comprising, for each of a plurality of biomolecules detected in said two-dimensional array, a pair of x,y coordinates and a signal value;
- processing said output in at least one computer to select one or more of said detected biomolecules in accordance with previously ordained or operator-specified criteria;
- and optionally
- generating machine-readable instructions that direct a robotic device to isolate at least one of said selected biomolecules from said two-dimensional array.
A computer assisted method for excising a region of a gel containing desired biomolecules from a gel, comprising:
- a) separating said desired biomolecules from undesired biomolecules in a 2-D electrophoresis method to yield a separation of biomolecules on said gel;
- b) scanning said gel to yield a digitized image of biomolecules in said gel;
- c) using data from said digitized image to position a cutter over said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules wherein positioning of said cutter is computer controlled;
- d) moving said cutter into said gel to cut said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules;
- and
- e) lifting said cutter to lift said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules away from said gel.
A computer assisted method for excising a region of a gel containing desired biomolecules from a gel, comprising:
- a) separating said desired biomolecules from undesired biomolecules in a 2-D electrophoresis method to yield a separation of biomolecules on said gel wherein said biomolecules are labeled to release radiation;
- b) placing a film sensitive to said radiation in contact with or near said gel to expose said film and produce an exposed film;
- c) developing said exposed film to produce a developed film;
- d) scanning said developed film to yield a digitized image of biomolecules in said gel;
- e) using data from said digitized image to position a cutter over said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules wherein positioning of said cutter is computer controlled;
- f) moving said cutter into said gel to cut said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules;
- and
- g) lifting said cutter to lift said region of said gel containing said desired biomolecules away from said gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.