The Goode Lab at Brandeis University
Lab Facilities & Equipment
Our lab has a full range of state-of-the-art equipment for protein purification, fluorometry and light microscopy, including 3 multi-spectral TIRF microscopes as well as the recently acquired super-resolution (SIM) microscope. We also share a number of facilities with related labs in the Rosenstiel center, and the biochemistry, microarray, and confocal microscopy facilities at Brandeis. Mouse over the images below for more information:
Many of the experiments in our lab use recombinant proteins purified from E. coli and S. cerevisiae, and the first step in the purification process is lysis of these cells. The LM-20 microfluidizer allows us to lyse bacterial and yeast cells with far greater efficiency (almost 100% versus 20-40%), and achieve much higher yields, and in some cases more active proteins.
Two FPLCs from Amersham Pharmacia are used for purification of a range of proteins with various gel filtration and anion/cation exchange columns. The third FPLC is optimized for analytical procedures. They are contained in their own refrigeration units and are controlled externally with Unicorn software. We also have the associated automatic fractionators to simplify eluate collection.
We use three triple-color Nikon total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopes, equipped with an Andor EM-CCD cameras. These are primarily used for monitoring in vitro real-time dynamics of individual actin filaments and for single molecule analysis. They are also available for in vivo TIRF live cell imaging.
We currently use two PTI QM-4/2003 spectrofluorometers to carry out kinetics assays for actin assembly and disassembly under a variety of conditions. Reactions are manipulated using the Felix software system.
Super-resolution Nikon N-SIM (structured illumination) microscope, with a Hamamatsu OrcaFLASH4 CMOS camera.
Large samples may be spun in either of two Sorvall RC-6+ centrifuges, while larger G forces can be applied using our two ultracentrifuges (Beckman Coulter Optima LE-80K and an older Beckman L8-70). We also have a Beckman Optima TLX tabletop ultracentrifuge, which can be used for high speed applications such as sedimenting actin filaments.
Tecan Infinite M200-PRO and F200 microplate readers to carry out fluorescence- and luminescence-based biochemical assays in a 96‑well format. The instruments are controlled using Magellan and i‑Control software.
Jointly owned equipment
Brandeis University has a number of facilities that are shared among labs and specialized equipment which may be used by any of the biology, biochemistry, chemistry and biophysics labs on campus.
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"Jabberwocky": a state-of-the-art spinning disk microscope with both confocal and non-confocal modes, piezo stage, two Andor Ixon Ultra CCD cameras for simultaneous 2-color or sequential acquisition, and a sCMOS camera for rapid epifluorescence detection.
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"Smaug": a laser scanning confocal inverted Nikon Ti-E-PFS3 eclipse microscope with several solid-state lasers, a 7-LED Light Engine array, an sCMOS camera (Andor Zyla), and an EMCCD camera (Andor Ixon).
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BLItz protein binding kinetics assay system
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Odyssey quantitative infrared fluorescence imaging scanner
Shared instrumentation and facilities
Brandeis University has a number of facilities that are shared among labs and specialized equipment which may be used by any of the biology, biochemistry, chemistry and biophysics labs on campus.
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Facility for Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM)
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Electron Microscopy - W. M. Keck Institute for Cellular Visualization
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List of other shared facilities available to Life Sciences laboratories at Brandeis