ABI PRISM 377 DNA ANALYZER

为了升级和更新克利夫兰临床基金会勒纳研究所分子生物技术核心实验室的测序和基因分析能力，正在申请资金购买具有96通道升级的ABI PRISM 377 XL DNA测序仪。这款最先进的仪器拥有最新推出的0.4 mm梳子，可以更轻松地进行96道凝胶加载。它将使核心实验室能够扩展其目前的服务，包括高通量测序以及微卫星和突变分析，这将对研究所目前正在进行的许多研究项目产生影响。目前，DNA测序是这个核心设施提供的最广泛使用的服务，在处理大量样本的能力方面往往负担过重。鉴于1998年收到的DNA测序样本数量迅速增加，再看看未来的预测，我们显然需要一个样本容量更大的额外测序仪。使用96条通道的高通量运行将使我们能够专门使用其中一台测序仪进行微卫星分析和DNA片段大小测定。这将确保由卫生部资助的调查人员能够及时实现他们的测序、基因分型和突变分析目标。克利夫兰诊所的研究人员处于独特的地位，因为与临床医生的密切合作使他们能够接触到患者材料，从而识别出许多临床相关的疾病和综合征。对患有疾病的个人和家庭进行基因分型的能力将有助于识别负责的基因，为可能的治疗干预铺平道路。同样，通过DNA测序快速识别与癌症等疾病状态相关的基因突变的能力将进一步加深我们对相关致病机制的理解。勒纳研究所致力于为调查人员提供有效的最先进的中央核心设施。这些核心实验室是现代化的，组织良好，由训练有素和经验丰富的人员管理。这确保定期对仪器进行维修，并使调查人员在经济上负担得起，这样他们就不需要使用赠款资金来多余地购买或运行大型设备。研究所最近搬到了新建成的研究和教育大楼，这使得雇用新的主要调查人员的空间得以扩大，以扩大现有部门或开创新的部门。在这一快速扩张阶段，对测序、基因分型和突变分析等服务的需求预计将大幅增加。目前的DNA测序用户群由来自60多个PI实验室的工作人员、博士后研究员、研究生和技术支持人员组成，资金来自NIH基础和临床部门的同行评议拨款。增加一个具有96通道容量的新DNA测序仪将显著增强这个核心实验室的能力。

Funds are being requested for the purchase of an ABI PRISM 377 XL DNA Sequencer with 96-lane upgrade in order to upgrade and update the sequencing and genetic analysis capabilities of the Molecular Biotechnology Core laboratory at the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The acquisition of this state-of-the-art instrument that has a newly introduced 0.4 mm comb to enable 96-lane gel loading easier. It will empower the Core laboratory to extend its present services to include high throughput sequencing as well as microsatellite and mutational analysis that will impact on many research projects currently underway at the research Institute. At the present time DNA sequencing is the most widely used service offered by this Core facility and is often overtaxed in terms of ability to handle the large number of samples. In view of the rapid increase in the number of DNA sequencing samples received in 1998 and looking at the future projections, it is clear that we will require an additional sequencer with larger sample capacity. The high throughput runs using 96 lanes will allow us to dedicate one of the sequencers for microsatellite analysis and sizing DNA fragments. This would ensure that the investigators funded by the MH would be able to achieve their sequencing, genotyping and mutational analysis goals in a timely manner. The research investigators at the Cleveland Clinic are in a unique position, in that the close collaboration with the clinicians allow them access to patient material leading to identification of many clinically relevant diseases and syndromes. The ability to genotype individuals and families with disorders would aid in identifications of genes responsible paving way for possible therapeutic interventions. Similarly the ability to rapidly identify genetic mutations associated with disease states such as cancers by DNA sequencing will further our understanding of the causative mechanisms involved. The Lerner Research Institute is committed in providing effective state- of-the-art central core facilities to investigators. These Core laboratories are modem, well organized and run by trained and experienced personnel. This ensures that the instrumentation is serviced regularly and is made financially affordable to investigators who are then not required to use grant funding for redundant purchase or running of large equipment. The Institute has recently moved to the newly constructed Research and Education building which has permitted expansion in terms of space for hiring new principle investigators to expand on the existing departments or pioneer new ones. During this rapid expansion phase the demand for services such as sequencing, genotyping and mutation analysis is expected to increase significantly. The present DNA sequencing user group consists of staff scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and technical support personnel from over 60 PI laboratories funded through peer-reviewed NIH grants from both the basic and clinical departments. The addition a new DNA Sequencer with 96-lane capacity will significantly enhance the capability of this Core laboratory.