What the facility does
Biochemistry and plant molecular biology.
Areas of expertise
The laboratory studies the environmental and molecular responses of plants, particularly the tolerance of abiotic stress (temperature) and developmental stress (architecture of the aerial part). A more applied project focuses on the use of plant proteins for better cryopreservation of mammalian cells. The available infrastructure enables gene expression studies, molecular screening and protein purification, with a view to clarifying the functions of the genes and proteins involved in the physiological and molecular responses under study.
Research services
- Gene expression analyses
- Plant imaging
- Chromatic purification of proteins
Sectors of application
- Agriculture, animal science and food
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Berthold NightOWL imaging system | For bright-field, fluorescence and luminescence imaging. Samples (whole plants, explants, membranes, etc.) are placed in a light-tight chamber. A high-resolution, ultra-high-sensitivity camera enables imaging of a wide array of fluorescent compounds, including green fluorescent compounds (GFPs), yellow fluorescent compounds (YFPs) and ethidium bromide (EtBr), as well as chemiluminescent compounds (luciferase). Optimum focus is achieved by moving the camera, which is mounted on a motorized mast. |
| Bio-Rad CFX96 quantitative real-time (qRT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection system | Integrated system used for gene expression analyses by means of a qRT-PCR 96-well plate reader. It allows us to determine temperature gradients in order to identify the optimal conditions for amplification. The software enables all relative and absolute data quantification analyses. |
| Bio-Rad BioLogic DuoFlow protein purification system | Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) system used for protein purification on preloaded chromatography columns or columns prepared in our lab. The Maximizer 20 system allows us to obtain high pressure and enables automated mixing of solutions (to generate gradients). Conductivity, pH and UV detectors allow us to monitor chromatographic conditions and protein abundance, by means of a fraction collector. |