Using Tecan's Freedom EVO® to Produce a Human Genome-Wide RNAi Library


Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden, Germany, are using a Tecan Freedom EVO® Workstation to create a human genome-wide library of endoribonuclease-prepared (esi)RNAs, suitable for a range of academic applications.

"We are standardizing the esiRNAs using the Freedom EVO because high precision aliquoting is fundamental for a usable library," explained Dr Krausz, Head of the HT-Technology Development Studio at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics." Our integrated 96-channel Te-MO(TM) pipetting system rapidly and precisely aliquots our samples, ready for UV measurement of the esiRNA concentration and purity using a fully integrated Tecan GENios(TM) microplate reader. The standardized library is then assembled with the Freedom EVO liquid handling arm; each of the eight needles independently introduces the diluting medium and then adds appropriate quantities of the esiRNA mixture, according to instructions given by the LIMS, resulting in equal final volumes and concentrations of the various esiRNAs."

So far, the library has over 14,000 molecule mixtures available in the same concentrations in 384-well microtiter plates, suitable for switching off a corresponding number of human genes in cultured cells. Dr Krausz and his colleagues have also developed a robust and automated transfection method, using the Freedom EVO, to introduce the esiRNA molecules efficiently into human cancer cells under constant conditions.

About Tecan
Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global player in the Life Sciences supply industry specializing in the development, production, and distribution of advanced automation solutions enabling pharma and academic research, diagnostics, food and veterinary research as well as forensics. Through its REMP subsidiary (www.remp.com), Tecan is the leading supplier of compound and sample storage, management and logistics solutions. Tecan clients are pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments and diagnostic laboratories. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both North America and Europe and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2005, Tecan achieved sales of CHF 344.9 million (USD 275.9 Mio.; EUR 222.5 Mio.). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SWX Swiss Exchange (TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/Valor: 12100191).

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