Robots/Automation Facility

Robot Module Specifications

The automated core facility includes 13 modules for (almost) any task to perform in a lab: liquid handling, colimy pinning, shaking, incubating, sealing, running PCR, data capture...

	Module Description
	Automated workstation (Biomek FX, Beckman Coulter) - Versatile liquid handler for 96- or 384-well plates. - Equipped with a 96-channel 200 μl head and a 8-independent channel head. - Pintools for 96-, 384 and 768 formats - Enclosed in an Iso class 5 cleanroom. - Different modules can be installed such as a magnetic bead unit, a filtration unit, a magnetic stirrer, an orbital shaker, a heating unit and a circulating reservoir.
	Plate shaker (Beckman Coulter) Configured with 6-plate locations.
	Plate reader (DTX880, Beckman Coulter) - For absorbance, luminescence, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization and time-resolved fluorescence. - Heated chamber (from 4ºC above ambient up to 45ºC). - Reads from top or bottom of 6- to 384-well plates. - Current filter sets include 260, 340, 370, 405, 450, 485, 535, 595 and 620 nm for excitation and 535, 595 and 625 nm for emission. - Can perform endpoint, multiple wavelength, kinetic, or area scans.
	Dispenser (Multidrop384, Titertek) 8-channel head to dispense 5 to 395 μl from a single or multiple reagent bottles
	Plate washer (ELx405 select, Biotek Instruments) - Dispenses from top and washes from bottom. - Flow rate is adjustable for sensitive assays.
	Lidding station (Beckman Coulter) - Accommodates up to 6 lids. - Maintains the lid-plate association.
	Carousel (Beckman Coulter) Accommodates up to 90 standard plates and 40 deep-well plates or tip boxes.
	Robotic arm (ORCA, Beckman Coulter) Slides on a 3-meter rail to move plates or labware between devices.
PICTURE	Tip lift and disposal unit (Beckman Coulter) Accommodates up to 96 200 μl tip boxes.
	Plate sealer (ALPS 300, from Abgene) Used to seal plates for storage or to prevent evaporation or contamination during incubation or shaking.
	Thermocycler (PTC-225 DNA engine tetrad, BioRad/MJ Research) 4-independent PCR units.
	Incubator (Cytomat 6001, Kendro) - Accommodates up to 125 standard plates and 30 deep-well plates - Incubation from 10 to 50ºC. - CO2 supply possible for cell culture - Agar plates can be incubated (and manipulated) upside down to prevent condensation on lid.
	Digital Camera (EOS40D, Canon) - Enclosed for dark environment. - Two bulbs providing white light from top of the plate. - Polarized filters to prevent light reflection - Medium- to high-resolution pictures (JPEG, RAW format).

Custom Assays Development

cian [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Contact us) for more information on this service.

Examples of custom methods and projects

• Re-array of an E. coli library for an RNAi screen in C. elegans
• Re-format of a S. cerevisiae collection from 96-well plates to individual vials
• Compound library copy and re-arrangement
• SGA screens (pinning) and confirmation (spotting assay)
• Experimental evolution and evolutionary rescues
• siRNA screens
• ELISA assays
• PCR-based genotyping
• Luminsecent expression reporter
• Fluorescence displacement
• Drug sensitivity screens (in liquid medium or on solid medium)
• and more...

Users planning to use the Robots/Automation facility must cian [at] mcgill [dot] ca (submit a short proposal) describing the general scope of the planned research. Target start and end dates are strongly encouraged. 

Experimental Modules

• Plasmid DNA preparation: Submit E. coli clones on agar plates or as liquid cultures in tubes or 96-deep well plates for plasmid DNA minprep.
• Fly genomic DNA preparation: Submit 5 Drosophila flies/well in 96-well plates to get genomic DNA suitable for PCR genotyping.
• Growth spotting assay: Submit liquid cultures of yeast or bacteria or use our yeast collections to screen by spotting serial dilutions on agar-plates.

More experimental modules to come!

Users planning to use the Robots/Automation facility must cian [at] mcgill [dot] ca (submit a short proposal) describing the general scope of the planned research. Target start and end dates are strongly encouraged.