Firma:              BioRad

Modell:            Spot Cutter

Kommentar:   Dokumente engl.

Fig. 2. The ProteomeWorks Spot Cutter.

General Description

The ProteomeWorks Spot Cutter System is a precision instrument for the accurate location, excision and loading into microtiter plates (MTP) of protein spots after separation on 2-D electrophoresis gels or PVDF membranes. The system has been designed to be both robust in construction and simple to operate.

System Description

• The Spot Cutter

Bench footprint of 50 x 50 cm with a curving camera support arm holding a camera over the platform of the work surface. Under platform lights used for gel imaging, an x,y arm supporting the cutting head mechanism, the gel or PVDF cutting area, a microtiter plate holding area, wash well area containing 4 wash tubes.

• The Camera

Cooled CCD camera, 1392x1040 imaging pixels, 12 bit ADC

• Working Surface

The working surface is shown in Appendix B and consists of two main areas, the cutting surface and the microtiter plate holder / wash wells area. In addition there is also a bubble level which is used to ensure the cutting surface is level.

• Cutting Surface

The cutting platform dimensions are 25 x 25 cm. The cutting tip can access an area of 22 cm x 20.5 cm within this 25 x 25 cm area. The cutting tip range will cover the protein resolving area of any commercially available gel type. The extra platform area was designed to accommodate the entire gel without the need for cutting the gel to fit the cutting platform. The diagram below shown the orientation of the cutting area within the platform. Gels should be positioned against the right wall of the cutting platform, next to the microtiter plate holder, and centered vertically in the platform.

• Cutting Mats

Two cutting mats are provided with the system. The cutting mats provide for a flexible surface beneath the gel to allow for complete excision of the gel spots. The mats may become scored by the cutting tip, stained by the gel stains, or become cracked with repeated use over time.

• Gel Cutting Sheets

Gel Cutting Sheets are thin plastic sheets that are positioned between the cutting mat and the gel in the cutting area. This prevents scoring by the cutting tip and extends the life of the cutting mat. The Gel Cutting Sheets can also be used to Lift gels out of storage trays to minimize damage to gels from excessive handling.

• Gel-holding bars

Two custom designed stainless steel Gel-holding Bars are included in the accessory box with the Spot cutter. These gel holding bars are used to immobilize the Coomassie stained PVDF membrane during the X, Y calibration procedure, as well as for general gel excision processing. While the cutting tip does not impart any orthogonal forte to the gel, correct placement of these Gel-holding bars on the gel prevents any gel movement during the gel excision process.

Position the bars resting on the outer edge of the gel or membrane, It is best to position them to the left side and bottom of the gel so they are out of the cutting tip travel path.