Resource Report

URL: http://harvard.eagle-i.net/i/0000012d-9ff6-5676-4882-b08d80000000

Proper Citation: CHB Cell Sorter Core (RRID:SCR_009706)

Description: Core facility that provides the following services: Flow cytometry analysis service, Cell cycle analysis, Cell sorting service, Side population cell sorting, Zebrafish cell sorting and analysis. The Stem Cell Core Facility has been part of the IDDRC center for more than 30 years fostering collaboration and innovation among IDDRC investigators and members of the academic research community. It was used to develop chromosome sorting for human chromosome specific recombinant libraries and these techniques were utilized by others to generate large scale libraries for the early genome project. The facility was the first to develop cell sorting of fetal cells in the maternal circulation as a means to detect fetal genetic abnormalities. Throughout its history the Stem Cell Core has provided careful and accurate cell cycle analysis via DNA content analysis using Hoechst dye uptake. This service is still used today by investigators. The facility was among the first to take advantage of the ability to express GFP in cells transfected with vectors and induced to express GFP in transgenic animals conditionally expressing a specific gene promoter. This ability allowed IDDRC investigators to isolate neurons, muscle cells and other cell types which express GFP from those which do not. IDDRC investigators were among the first to subsequently culture sorted neurons. Based on the extensive experience of the core using Hoechst dye for cell cycle analysis, the core was able to help IDDRC investigators prepare side population cells (tissue derived potential multipotent progenitor cells) based on Hoechst dye efflux. These methods have allowed the isolation of different muscle side population cells and have facilitated experiments that aim to use the cells for treating muscle disease. The interactive and collaborative nature of the core has fostered these developments, and the interests of the core director, advisory committee, manager and IDDRC investigators will continue to make this core as innovative in the future as it has been in the past. The overall goal of the Stem Cell Core Facility is to provide both IDDRC and non-IDDRC researchers comprehensive analytical flow cytometry and cell sorting services in a timely, dependable and cost-effective manner.

Resource Type: service resource, access service resource, core facility

Keywords: flow cytometry assay, cellular assay, cell cycle analysis assay, fluorescence activated cell sorting (facs)