The FGC has purchased the  Ambion® Complete Human Genome Silencer® Select siRNA library. This library contains three constructs per target (64,752 constructs). The Ambion Silencer Select siRNAs are designed using their most advanced algorithm developed using a machine learning approach. In addition the siRNAs are chemically modified to enhance guide strand bias. This has the effect of maximizing siRNA silencing potency and for decreasing passenger strand related off-target effects. We will be happy to work with you to optimize the transfection protocols for your system and perform screens of the full genome or smaller sets.

Using our Biomek robots we can create custom sub-libraries from our collection to perform targeted small screens of the genes of your choosing.

Facility Email: fgc@arizona.edu

Our team specializes in writing custom programs (methods) and pipelines on our Biomek robots. Whether you need an entirely custom screening pipeline, or just the same few transfers done to a single plate week after week, we are happy to set up your project on our systems. It is our goal to train campus researchers to use our robots unassisted and on their own schedules. We make these instruments available to all trained users for independent use.

We have developed several programs (methods) that are designed to perform common cellular biology tasks in 96 or 384-well plates. These tasks include media swaps, PBS washes, reagent additions, etc. using the Biomek’s 96-tip pipetting head. These methods have been written with button interfaces that allow the operator to select from different plate types, numbers of plates, pipetting speeds and styles, and many other options to allow the operator to customize their usage independently.

We have also created programs to enable the operator to independently daughter and dilute compound libraries, perform cell based immunofluorescent assays (fix, permeabilize, probe with primary and secondary antibodies, wash, and stain).

Facility Email: fgc@arizona.edu

The Functional Genomics Core (FGC) works with investigators to perform all necessary assay optimization and validation. The FGC staff will translate your protocol into a high-throughput workflow on our liquid handling robots. Our team can perform your compound screen, work with your group to perform the screen, or train you to work independently on our systems. The primary limit on the throughput of the screen is the speed of the assay. Simple fluorescence based assays can be read on our CLARIOstar Plus microplate reader, while complex cell phenotyping can be performed on our Operetta CLS, binding assays can be run on our Octet RED384 BioLayer Interferometry (BLI) instrument.

The FGC is integrated with the Arizona Center for Drug Discovery (ACDD) providing resources for investigators conducting research in molecular biology to run live cell, biochemical and other assays. The ACDD, housed in the UArizona College of Pharmacy, creates the necessary infrastructure to bridge UArizona researchers with pharmaceutical partners to establish a collaborative environment to advance novel disease intervention findings beyond the laboratory setting. The ACDD works with scientists at the UArizona to develop and perform research projects in drug discovery. The ACDD also maintains compound libraries and provides assay design and optimization support.

For information or support on compound screening or drug discovery contact  Christopher Penton (pentoncm@arizona.edu) with the Arizona Center for Drug Discovery