Molecular and cellular biology unit

Molecular and cellular biology service

The Molecular and Cellular Biology Unit (BMC) is a Research Support Unit both for equipment for different experimental tasks and for carrying out “à la carte” experimentation work with total flexibility and adaptability to the needs of each user.
Our main objective is to provide scientific-technical support for its application in Molecular and Cellular Biology work to the different groups that make up the staff of the Cajal Institute as well as other public Organizations or private Institutions that require our services.

Research support functions

• Purification of nucleic acids (maxi, midi, mini…). Generation of glycerols from bacteria.

• Bacterial transformation.
• RNA extraction; employement of qPCR for quantitative genotyping, and for genetic expression determination from RNA.

• Quantification of Biomolecules (Nanodrop ND-1000 Spectrophotometer).

• Agarose gel electrophoresis for visualization and quantification of Nucleic Acids.

• Amplification of DNA fragments by PCR and subsequent purification.
  Includes advice on the choice of primers, PCR reaction and thermocycler program.

• GENOTYPED. Includes:

  ‐ Genomic DNA purification from mouse tail or other tissue.
  ‐ DNA quantification/purity
  ‐ Amplification of the DNA fragment/s by PCR reaction that determines the genotype to be analyzed with its corresponding controls. Fine tunning.
  ‐ Agarose/GelRed gel and Marker optimized for the expected DNA fragment size.
  ‐ Acquisition of the images of said gel and characterization of the results.

• Performance of mycoplasma tests from cell supernatants.

CONSULTING SERVICE AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

RATES AND RESERVATIONS: Contact the Unit.

Technical support functions

• TRAINING AND ADVICE ON THE USE OF UBMC EQUIPMENT. Initial basic training novice user. Solve problems with the sample. Preparation of Manuals and Quick Guides for each team.
• SUPERVISION OF THE CORRECT OPERATION OF ALL EQUIPMENT BELONGING TO UBMC, carrying out maintenance (corresponding calibrations and cleaning) of the equipment periodically either by UBMC personnel or by the specialized Technical Service of each equipment.
• SOFTWARE UPDATE OF DIFFERENT EQUIPMENTS.
• CONTROL OF SPARE PARTS AND CONSUMABLES OF SAID EQUIPMENT, taking into account the most susceptible failures of the equipment to have the appropriate part in stock in order to avoid waiting.
• CONTACT WITH THE REPRESENTED COMMERCIAL HOUSES OF THE TEAMS.

Equipment

• Two Spectrophotometers (ND-1000 and Nanodrop One)
• Real Time PCR System for Quantitative PCR (two units: 7500 and QS3, from Life Technologies)
• Two thermal cyclers for amplification of DNA sequences by PCR 2720
  (Applied Biosystems).
• Verity 96-well thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems)
• Minicentrifuge for 96-well plates (qPCR) from Axygen.
  (Applied Biosystems)
• Two Cryostats CM1900 and CM1950 (Leica Microsystems)
• Three Leica Microsystems Vibratomes: two VT1000S
  and a VT1000M. Microm HM450 Slide Microtome
• Sirius (Berthold) tube luminometer
  
• UVP BioDoc-iT agarose gel/DNA and protein imaging kit.
• SpeedVac SPD1010 sample concentrator-evaporator (Thermo Scientific).
• Multiscan Ascent Absorbance Plate Reader.
• Plate reader (for absorbance, luminescence and fluorimetry) FLUOstar OPTIMA and CLARIOstar (BMG Labtech).
• MiniQG-80 Mini Robot for column nucleic acid purification without centrifugation: plasmid and genomic DNA/total RNA from cell cultures and tissue
• Near-infrared fluorescence imaging detection system (membrane, plate): Li-COR Odissey CLX. Image Studio Lite 5.2 quantification software.
  
• Scanner-Densitometer GS-800 (BioRad), not in use. Software Quantity One.

Staff

Dr. Emilio Tejera (emilio.tejera@cajal.csic.es)

Otros integrantes de la Unidad:
Dra. María Rodríguez (mrodriguez@cajal.csic.es)

Raquel López (raquel.lopez@cajal.csic.es)

Miriam Caro (miriam.caro@csic.es)

PHONE: 91 585 47 37 / 4727
LOCATION: Ground Floor – Laboratory A16
SCHEDULE: From 7:30 to 15:00h (contact with the unit).
EMAIL: emilio.tejera@cajal.csic.es
RATES AND RESERVATIONS: Contact with the unit