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

肯尼索州立大学 (KSU) 获得一项奖项，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。电泳是分析核酸的主要方法，根据核酸的大小以及较小程度的构象来分离核酸。通过电泳分析，可以获得有关核酸样品组成的关键定性和定量信息。该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，包括 Ion Torrent 个人基因组机半导体测序仪 (PI Van Dyke)，从而显着扩展设施能力。主要好处将在于研究，包括涉及本科生和研究生（综合生物学理学硕士、化学科学理学硕士）学生的项目。此外，旨在增强代表性不足人群的研究机会的项目，包括 KSU 的 NIH 资助的桃州博士学位桥梁项目和 NSF 资助的化学和生物化学暑期本科生研究体验项目，都将从该仪器中受益。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健康相关和研究领域中的重要性日益增加。现代核酸样品质量控制技术的实践培训将使 KSU 学员更好地为广泛的 STEM 职业做好准备。电泳核酸分析仪为各种 DNA 和 RNA 质量控制应用提供自动化样品处理和可扩展的通量。例如，它们通常用于确定基因组 DNA 样本的完整性，然后再用于下一代测序、微阵列和定量 PCR 等复杂且昂贵的程序。该核酸分析仪最初将由堪萨斯州立大学五个实验室及其合作者组成的核心小组使用。 Michael Van Dyke 博士研究多种生物体中的孤儿转录调节因子，包括大肠杆菌和嗜热栖热菌。 Martin Hudson 博士利用秀丽隐杆线虫和神经系统分化的干细胞模型研究硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖和嗅觉素样蛋白在神经系统发育中的作用。 Joel McNeal 博士研究寄生植物菟丝子属的光合基因进化、宿主/寄生虫相互作用以及微生物内生菌。 Melanie Griffin 博士研究铜绿假单胞菌中亮氨酸反应蛋白的整体靶标。马库斯·戴维斯 (Marcus Davis) 博士探索脊椎动物附肢（鳍和四肢）模式的发育机制以及 HOX 基因调控的进化。核酸分析将为他们提供从组合选择的融合文库到发育阶段选择的 RNA 等材料，并进行必要的质量控制评估，从而增加他们研究和教学工作取得成功的可能性。

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.