University of York uses Syngene imager for protein expression

Published: 1-Jun-2010

G:BOX chemiluminescence system demonstrates its flexibility

The University of York is using a G:BOX chemiluminescence imaging system from Syngene of Cambridge, UK to determine expression of proteins on chemiluminescent Western blots.

The system allows researchers in the university’s Technology Facility to demonstrate quickly that recombinant clones are expressing the correct proteins, and rapidly deliver them to other scientists for use in their studies.

The Technology Facility offers state-of-the-art equipment and within this facility, there is a Protein Production facility comprising nine specialised areas including two tissue culture suites, two growth and fermentation rooms, two wet lab areas, a core facility of cold and centrifugation rooms and a protein purification suite. The laboratories provide a complete service or selected specialised steps involved in the production of recombinant proteins.

Dr Jared Cartwright, a laboratory head in the facility, said: ‘We run a protein production service for researchers at York and other universities and to make this facility cost-efficient we have to use detection techniques with our Western blots, which will identify the target proteins. Additionally, we have to analyse the results rapidly, so using autoradiography was becoming too time-consuming, expensive and presented issues with the incorporation of data in reports and publications.’

Laura Sullivan, Syngene’s Divisional Manager said: ‘The work at the University of York shows how flexible a G:BOX chemiluminescence image analyser is, making this system ideal for any laboratory where running efficiently and cost-effectively are critical.'

Syngene, founded in 1997, is a division of the Synoptics Group. The other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs more than 40 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, US.

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