Agilent Bioanalyser

Features:

• Lab-chip technology for automated analysis of RNA, DNA and protein samples in about 30 minutes
• Highly accurate and reproducible
• Replaces gel electrophoresis techniques
• Digital output for file sharing, publication and archiving. Output of gel-like images, electropherograms and tabular formats

Guidelines:

• Use of the machine in the Molecular Biology Facility
• Types of Chips available in the Facility
• Costs
• Tips and additional information

• The Agilent Bioanalyser is in high demand therefore there is an online booking system. Plan ahead, book time slots and stick to them
• The Molecular Biology facility has a supply of lab chips which can be used at a cost to the individual researcher. Costs cover the chip and all reagents needed to run a chip and to clean the machine. A record will be kept of the useage and funds will be transfered from each department on a quarterly basis
• Always let the Molecular Biology Officer know when you are going to use one of the chips
• Chips can run up to 12 samples (10 for protein). The chips can not be reused so it is a good idea to fill up the chip if you can (maybe find someone to share the chip)
• There are two electrode cartridges. One is to be used exclusively for RNA chips and the other is for DNA and protein. They are labelled appropriately. Please make sure you use the correct electrode

RNA 6000 Nano

• For the analysis of RNA samples in the 25-500ng/µl range
• Information on the integrity/quality of total RNA or mRNA - identify RNA degradation
• Check for ribosomal RNA contamination in mRNA samples
• Detect genomic DNA contamination
• Analysis of in vitro transcribed product
• Estimation of RNA concentration

DNA 1000

• For sizing and quantitation of DNA fragments from 25 to 1000bp
• Analyses samples in the 0.5-50ng/µl range
• Use the chip in place of ethidium bromide stained agarose gels to analyse PCR products or restriction digests etc.

DNA 7500

• For sizing and quantitation of DNA fragments in the 100-7500bp range

Protein 200

• For sizing and concentration analysis of proteins from 14 to 200kDa (comparable to a 4-20% gradient gel)
• Semi-quantitative concentation measurements
• Sensitivity equivalent to Coomassie stain
• Analyse a large variety of samples - cell lysates, column fractions, antibodies and purified proteins.
• Carry out expression studies by comparing different expression patterns
• Only 4µl of sample required per analysis

• Agilent has an RNA 6000 pico kit for samples at very low concentration. For examples, when extracting RNA from laser capture microdissection (LCM) samples
• If you want to directly compare samples, try overlaying the elecropherograms
• If the machine does not register a chip, make sure that all the wells have something in them. If this is not the problem, it is likely that the chip was not primed properly
• There is a list of compatible buffers for protein analysis - check these before you do any extraction of proteins that you would like to analyse on the machine