MRI: Acquisition of a Nucleic Acid Analyzer for Research and Teaching

Kennesaw州立大学(KSU)被授予资助用于多学科研究和研究培训的电泳核酸分析仪和配件。电泳法是分析核酸的主要手段，根据核酸的大小和构象来分离核酸。通过电泳法分析，可以获得有关核酸样品组成的关键的定性和定量信息。核酸分析仪将成为现有大规模并行/下一代测序设施的一部分，其中包括Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine半导体测序仪(Pi Van Dyke)，从而显著扩大设施的能力。主要的好处将在研究方面，包括涉及本科生和研究生(综合生物学理科硕士，化学科学理科硕士)学生的项目。此外，加强对代表性不足人群的研究机会的项目，包括科罗拉多州立大学资助的桃州大学通往博士学位的桥梁，以及NSF资助的化学和生物化学夏季本科生研究体验计划，都将从这一仪器中受益。还计划将该设施纳入课程课程，特别是考虑到下一代测序和转录组分析在与健康有关的领域和研究领域日益重要。当代核酸样本质量控制技术的实践培训将使KSU学员为广泛的STEM职业生涯做好更好的准备。电泳核酸分析仪为各种DNA和RNA质量控制应用提供自动化的样本处理和可扩展的吞吐量。例如，它们通常用于确定基因组DNA样本的完整性，然后再用于复杂和昂贵的程序，如下一代测序、微阵列和定量PCR。核酸分析仪最初将由KSU的五个实验室及其合作者组成的核心小组使用。迈克尔·范·戴克博士研究了各种生物体中的孤儿转录调控因子，包括大肠杆菌和嗜热热杆菌。马丁·哈德森博士利用线虫和神经系统分化的干细胞模型，研究了硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白多糖和肌动蛋白样蛋白在神经系统发育中的作用。Joel McNeal博士研究寄生植物葫芦属植物的光合作用基因进化、寄主/寄生虫相互作用和微生物内生菌。Melanie Griffin博士研究铜绿假单胞菌亮氨酸反应蛋白的全球靶点。马库斯·戴维斯博士探索了脊椎动物附肢(鳍和四肢)的发育机制以及HOX基因调控的进化。核酸分析将为他们的材料，从组合选择的融合库到发育阶段选择的RNA，提供基本的质量控制评估，从而增加他们在研究和教学努力中成功的可能性。

An award is made to Kennesaw State University (KSU) to fund an electrophoretic nucleic acids analyzer and accessories for the use in multidisciplinary research and research training. Electrophoresis is the primary means of analyzing nucleic acids, separating nucleic acids based on their size and, to a lesser extent, conformation. Through an electrophoretic analysis, critical qualitative and quantitative information regarding the composition of a nucleic acid sample can be obtained. The nucleic acid analyzer will be part of the existing massively parallel / next generation sequencing facility, including an Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine semiconductor sequencer (PI Van Dyke), thereby significantly expanding facility capabilities. Primary benefits will be in research, including projects involving undergraduate and graduate (Master of Science in Integrative Biology, Master of Science in Chemical Sciences) students. Additionally, programs that enhance research access to under-represented populations, including KSU's NIH-funded Peach State Bridges to the Doctorate and NSF-funded Chemistry and Biochemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences programs, will benefit from this instrumentation. Involvement of the facility with course curricula is also planned, especially given the increasing importance of next-generation sequencing and transcriptome analysis in both health-related and research fields. Hands-on training in the technology used for contemporary nucleic acid sample quality control will better prepare KSU trainees for a broad range of STEM careers.An electrophoretic nucleic acids analyzer provides automated sample processing and scalable throughput for a variety of DNA and RNA quality control applications. For example, they are routinely used to determine the integrity of genomic DNA samples before their use in involved and costly procedures such as next generation sequencing, microarrays, and quantitative PCR. The nucleic acids analyzer will be used initially by a core group of five laboratories at KSU and their collaborators. Dr. Michael Van Dyke investigates orphan transcriptional regulators in a variety of organisms, including E. coli and Thermus thermophilus. Dr. Martin Hudson studies the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and anosmin-like proteins in nervous system development, using C. elegans and stem cell models of nervous system differentiation. Dr. Joel McNeal investigates photosynthetic gene evolution, host/parasite interactions, and microbial endophytes in the parasitic plant genus Cuscuta. Dr. Melanie Griffin studies the global targets of the leucine response protein in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dr. Marcus Davis explores the developmental mechanisms that pattern vertebrate appendages (fins and limbs) and the evolution of HOX gene regulation. Nucleic acids analysis will provide their materials, ranging from combinatorially selected fusion libraries to developmental stage-selected RNAs, with essential quality control assessments, thereby increasing the likelihood of success in their research and teaching endeavors.