IDDRC
Core-B Recombinant
Technologies
Co-Directors: Michael
Brenner, Ph.D. and Anne
Theibert, Ph.D.
The objective of the Recombinant
Technologies Core is to provide technical and
material support for molecular and cellular research by
IDDRC investigators at UAB. The Core combines support for
cutting edge procedures with outreach to the molecularly
naive to encourage and enable application of recombinant
techniques to their research projects. It provides state-of-the-art
equipment, dedicated technical expertise, comprehensive
hands-on training, and reagents in such areas as PCR, neuronal
culture, cell transfection, sequence database searching
and analysis, and recombinant DNA techniques. Through these
services, the Core facilitates studies at the molecular
level of brain development and function and disease processes.
It also promotes collaborative projects among IDDRC investigators,
and enables investigators to combine newly acquired cellular
and molecular tools with other approaches, such as electrophysiology
and behavior. The success of the Core in meeting the needs
of the IDDRC community is indicated by 2,476 logged uses
in the past year.
Utilization
In
the past year the Core has logged 2,476 visits from 29 different
laboratories. Many of these were for routine use of equipment
such as the electroporator, gel documentation system, or tissue
culture facilities for working with the neuronal cultures. However,
a critical component of the Core has been the instruction and
training of students, staff and faculty. Molecular biology techniques
taught included DNA purification, PCR, gel imaging, subcloning,
nucleic acid database analysis, electroporation, neuronal transfection,
DNA and protein electrophoresis and western blotting, and cell
culture methods. During the past year alone, 47 individuals from
16 different labs were trained, including 22 graduate students,
9 postdoctoral fellows, 13 research staff and 3 faculty.
Core
services are available without charge to all IDDRC investigators
and their staffs, except users are expected to provide supplies
in certain instances (e.g., rats for neuronal cell preparations).
Although IDDRC investigators have priority, other investigators
at UAB are encouraged to take advantage of the core facilities
as well. In most cases, these services will also be provided
without charge, although in certain instances there may be
a modest fee.
Core-B
Staff
One of the important functions of the Recombinant Technologies Core is to provide
a skilled molecular and cellular biology technical staff. The Core has two
full time staff members. A technical assistant, Liming Fan (100%), provides
instruction in basic molecular biological techniques and performs the bulk
of the work for many of the Core services, such as preparation of neuronal
cell cultures and competent cells; testing and maintenance of equipment such
as the speed vac, spectrophotometer and autoclaves; and maintains supplies.
Ms. Fan has held this position for the past year. Dr. Yuying Wu (100%) has
been the Core manager for 2 years. She has 14 years of expertise is in the
area of molecular and cellular neurobiology. She received her Ph.D. from the
University of Minnesota in Pharmacology in 1997 under the mentorship of Dr.
Louise Nutter for research on cloning and characterization of pyridoxine kinase.
She subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow from 1997 to 2000 in the laboratory
of Dr. Melissa Moore in the Biochemistry Department at Brandeis University,
where she studied the mechanism of RNA splicing. From 2000 to 2003 she was
the laboratory manager for Dr. Irvin Levitan at in the Department of Neuroscience
of the University of Pennsylvania. Her responsibilities include day-to-day
administration of the Core and supervision of the assistant, Ms. Fan. She also
assists with the preparation of neuronal cultures and competent cells, provides
instruction in more advanced techniques such as plasmid construction and cell
transfection, assists with database searches, assesses the merits of new products
and develops new Core services. As an example of the latter, she has adapted
modifications to the calcium phosphate DNA transfer protocol to increase transfection
efficiency to up to 50% of cells, and has implemented se of vector-expressed
siRNA.
Policy
and oversight for the Recombinant Technologies Core are provided
by two faculty members, Drs. Michael Brenner (10% effort) and
Anne Theibert (5% effort), both of whom are Associate Professors
in Neurobiology. Each brings approximately 25 years of experience
in molecular and cellular techniques. Drs. Brenner and Theibert
have a regularly scheduled weekly one-hour meeting with Ms.
Fan and Dr. Wu to trouble-shoot problems, set priorities for
use of the Core’s resources and consider new services.
In addition, Dr. Brenner is responsible for implementation
of decisions and for assisting Dr. Wu and Ms. Fan on a daily
basis as needed for trouble-shooting problems and administrative
matters.
