Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Analytical technologies in biology constantly improve but sometimes a ""quantum leap"" takes place that forever changes how molecular science is done. One such leap occurred a few years ago with the introduction of multiplex technology, first commercialized by Luminex Corp. In this procedure, samples are mixed with a suspension of microspheres internally labeled with a distinct combination of fluorescent dyes. With up to 100 distinct signatures, each microsphere is coated by a different capture ligand that binds to a specific target analyte. After target capture (and secondary labeling of the captured analyte), the beads are analyzed by flow cytometry whereby dual laser light identifies both the microsphere and quantifies the amount of captured analyte. This technology has revolutionized high-throughput analysis/screening in the field of genomics and proteomics, and is adaptable to quantification of hundreds of target types/actions: proteins, post-translational modifications to proteins, DNA, messenger RNA, microRNA, transcription factor binding to DNA, etc. Key advantages of the approach include consistency and speed of analysis, need for only very tiny sample sizes, and quantification of multiple related analytes within a single sample, frequently providing a ""snapshot"" of the relative responses of multiple components of a cellular pathway or process. The current application requests the purchase of a Luminex 200 system, a medium cost instrument that has the flexibility to use both the polystyrene and magnetic bead technologies to give users maximum choices of commercial or custom kits. The instrument will serve the diverse research programs of three laboratories - biochemistry of animal adaptation to environmental stress (Storey, Biochemistry), molecular mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and depression (Hayley, Neuroscience), and genomic research in a yeast model to identify/investigate novel genes/proteins that regulate protein translation (Golshani, Biology) while also providing a unique facility within the Faculty of Science at Carleton University. The instrument will optimize, maximize and fundamentally change our research approach going forward over the next decade.