Nucleic Acids Research Facilities Shared Resource
- The Gene Synthesis Core
- The Real Time PCR Core
- The DNA Sequencing Core
- The DNA Microarray Core
- Service access and charges
Gregory A. Buck, Ph.D.
Resource director
(804) 828-2318
Nucleic Acids Research Facilities (NARF) consists of four service cores and one support core. The four service cores include the Gene Synthesis Core, the Real Time PCR Core, the DNA Sequencing Core, and the DNA Microarray Core. The Support Core is composed of a small bioinformatics suite connected to the main Bioinformatics Computational Core Labs via gigabit ethernet.
All of the NARF services are provided at below commercial cost. Additionally, most of the services are completed with shorter turn times than commercial providers supply. Thus, DNA oligos can be provided in less than 24 hours, sequencing has a one- to two-day turnaround, and RT PCR has a one- to three-day turnaround (depending on the experiment). Microarrays are run weekly and there is usually only a minimal queue for access. Turnaround time is minimal.
The NARF occupy five main laboratories and several smaller labs and offices on the fifth floor of Sanger Hall, at the VCU Medical Center, which is in close proximity to Massey Cancer Center.
The Gene Synthesis Core
The Gene Synthesis Core provides all types of synthetic nucleic acids for many purposes. The core maintains a Perceptive Biosystems (now ABI) DNA synthesizer, HPLC instrumentation for purification and a PerkinElmer UV/Vis spectrophotometer. Standard, fluorescent, biotinylated or other modified DNA is synthesized for all VCU investigators. The Gene Synthesis Core is managed by a master’s-trained molecular biologist with technical support.
The Real Time PCR Core
The Real Time PCR Core maintains an ABI 7900 high throughput sequence detection instrument, enabling an increased number of reactions performed. The facility performs standard real time PCR for mRNA quantification and sequence detection PCR for genetic analysis by SNPs. In addition, the core has implemented TAQMAN technology for analysis of SNPs. Coupled with parallel service using our ABI sequencing instruments for microsatellite analysis, this has become an important adjunct service performed by the NARF. The Real Time PCR Core is managed by a master’s-trained molecular biologist with technical support.
The DNA Sequencing Core
The DNA Sequencing Core provides the capabilities of an ABI 3730, a 454 GS FLX and a Solexa 1 G DNA analyzer. The core offers several discrete sequencing services, standard dye terminator sequencing on the ABI 3100, high throughput Sanger sequencing on the ABI 3730, high throughput pyrosequencing on the Roche 454 GS FLX and high throughput re-sequencing using the Solexa 1G DNA analyzer.
The DNA Sequencing Core is managed by a doctorate-trained investigator with more than 10 years of experience in high throughput DNA sequencing, and is operated with additional technical support.
The DNA Microarray Core
The DNA Microarray Core maintains an Affymetrix GeneChip™ System for gene expression analysis using standard arrays. A spotted array system comprised of a BioRobotics TAS II Microarray Spotter and a Packard ScanArray 5000 XL Scanner is available for generation of custom arrays. In 2005, through institutional support, the core generated the VCU Mouse Array, which contains approximately 40,000 probes representing all known murine genes.
The core also maintains and offers guidance in the use of several analysis packages. One of these, the Ingenuity Pathways Analysis™ software package, permits minimally bioinformatics-literate investigators to dissect the biological relevance of the differentially expressed genes identified in microarray analysis. The DNA Microarray Core is maintained and operated by a Ph.D.-trained scientist with technical support.
Service access and charges
For more information, contact Gregory A. Buck, Ph.D., at (804) 828-2318 or visit www.narf.vcu.edu.
