Superfund Research Program

Molecular Biology

Project Leader: Moon-shong Tang
Grant Number: P42ES010344
Funding Period: 2000 - 2006

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2005 

The Molecular Biology Core provides Superfund investigators with:

1) technical support for the daily operations and maintenance of a Beckman Coulter CEQ2000 Capillary DNA sequencer used for sequencing and DNA fragment/microsatellite analyses, as well as investigator training on the use of this equipment. During the last year the sequencer was used by Drs Tang, Wirgin and Costa

2) consultation and hands-on assistance in the isolation of cDNAs, design of microarrays, printing of probes on custom array slides, hybridizations, evaluation of hybridization success, and acquisition and initial organization of data from commercial and custom microarrays.  The Core also assists in the design of custom arrays by providing appropriate controls and advice on replication and positioning of probes on slides.  Core personnel also provide the computer tools and expertise to evaluate the success of printing and hybridizations, assist in the initial organization of custom microarray data, and acquire and update computer software and assist in their use.  The Core also prepares labeled targets for custom microarray and Affymetrix GeneChip hybridizations. During the last year the affymetrix Gene Chip was used by Drs Tang and Costa.

3) technical support for the daily operation and maintenance of routinely used shared molecular biology imaging instruments including a PhosphorImager, Fluorescent Microplate Reader, AlphaImager, and Kodak film developer.  The Core also helps to develop new methods employing this equipment for individual investigators, and once new methods are developed, to bring them to the attention of other researchers. These equipment were used by all the biomedical superfund investigators.

4) consultation and training on commonly used molecular biology techniques including, but not limited to, Northern, Southern, and Western blots, real-time PCR, RT-PCR, and gel mobility shift analyses.  This Core also aids investigators in the use of software available in the Genetics Computer Group (GCG) package. The Core assisted Drs Wirgin, Tang, Rossman and Costa in these techniques.