Staff:
Wen-shu Wu, PhD, Core Director
207-885-8139
wuw@mmc.org
Pradeep Sathyanarayana, PhD, Co-Director
207-885-8315
sathyp@mmc.org
Overview:
The Cell Separation and Analysis Core provides instrumentation and expertise for cell analysis and sorting using FACS and MACS technologies. A separate arm of this core, the ES Cell Core, provides an institutional resource for the study of embryonic stem (ES) cells.
This core is comprised of four Becton Dickinson flow cytometers, the FACScan, FACSCalibur, FACSVantage and the FACSAria. While all of the cytometers are equipped with Argon lasers, the FACSCalibur has an additional red diode, which adds a fourth fluorescence channel. The FACSVantage with two additional lasers, HeNe and UV, has the capability of processing up to eight fluorescence and two scatter channels. The FACSAria is the first fixed alignment benchtop high-speed sorter. With its digital electronics and various pressures, it can process 70,000 cells per second. Other features include its fixed-optics, multi-well sorting and the capacity of analyzing 15 parameters simultaneously.
For an alternative method of cell sorting, the facility has the autoMACS from Miltenyi Biotec. Magnetic Cell Separation utilizes highly specific isolation of magnetically labeled cells. The cells of interest are labeled, passed through a separation column and are separated from the unlabeled cells. The system is fast, efficient and completely compatible with the flow cytometers. It may be used as a presorter or as an isolation method for other techniques.
An additional resource is the Beckman Coulter Vi-Cell. While performing fast and accurate cell counts, it also measures cell viability. Other features include real time images and mean cell size.
Services Available:
The Core facility provides the following:
- Instrument reagents such as sheath fluid or running buffers, controls and service contracts
- Cell analysis and sorting upon request
- Flow cytometry training for interested individuals
- Technical assistance in cell preparation and flow cytometry
Service Requests:
Service Request Form for
non-MMCRI users
