This proposal requests funds to establish a Nucleic Acid Analysis Core Facility at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The goal of this facility is to provide non-disease-oriented, basic science investigators at MUSC access to newly developed molecular biology instrumentation that will significantly improve the progress of their research objectives. The focus of this proposed facility is on the analysis of DNA and RNA macromolecules. Much of the basic biological research carried out today at MUSC, as in other universities, involves analysis of genes, their mRNA transcripts, sequences controlling expression of the genes, or translation of mRNA into protein products. In all of these areas of investigation, the characterization of nucleic acids is central. Thus, the proposed facility will have broad application to fundamental molecular biology projects being pursued by investigators in most research departments at MUSC. The main objective of this facility is to provide user-friendly access to three major instruments that will provide automated DNA sequencing, automated DNA and RNA fragment sizing and quantitation, and sophisticated imaging detection, for analysis of electrophoretic gels and blots. The major proposed instruments include an ABI Prism 377 DNA sequencer, an ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer and a Molecular Dynamics STORM Imager. The ABI 377 DNA sequencer will primarily be used to carry out DNA sequence analysis on samples prepared by individual investigators. Sequencing reactions will be performed by thermal cycling, using a Perkin-Elmer 9600 thermal cycler. The Prism 310 Genetic analyzer will be used to determine the size and quantity of DNA restriction fragments and PCR products, which are produced in gene mapping and cloning experiments. The Prism 310 will also be used for DNA sequencing on occasions when no fragment analyses are required. The Storm Imager will have a variety of applications, inc luding quantitative analysis of Southern, Northern and Western blots, analysis of gel mobility shift assays, quantitation of CAT assays, and colony and plaque screening. By housing these instruments in a shared instrument facility and supporting their use with a trained technician and an experienced director, we will be able to optimize the use and productivity of these instruments and accordingly increase their impact on basic research and research training at MUSC. The proposed facility will also be an important educational and research laboratory for a variety of training programs at the Medical University of South Carolina. Within the laboratories of the major and frequent user groups, there are 26 postdoctoral fellows, 42 graduate students and an increasing number of undergraduate science majors who will make use of the facility in pursuing their science degrees and advanced research training. The facility will also be used as a resource for students and high school teachers participating in programs at MUSC aimed at advancing science education at the K-12 levels in the State of South Carolina.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9601805
Program Officer
Lee C. Makowski
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1996-08-01
Budget End
1998-01-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
$161,764
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical University of South Carolina
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Charleston
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29425