Automated genomic and proteomic applications on the Biomek NX laboratory automation workstation

This technical paper describes the utilization of a new automated liquid handler from Beckman Coulter, Inc., the Biomek^® NX Laboratory Automation Workstation, for genomic and proteomic applications. For genomic applications, methodology for plasmid DNA purification using Promega Wizard^® SV 96 reagents was developed for the Biomek NX. A single plate of bacterial pellets can be processed to purified plasmid DNA without user interaction after initial setup. DNA quantity and quality were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis, restriction digestion, PCR (The PCR process is covered by patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., and F. Hoffman La Roche, Ltd.), and capillary sequencing. Additionally, the plasmid preparation method was used to purify plasmid DNA from bacterial clones isolated in a bacterial two-hybrid screening procedure. In this case, the system quickly and efficiently prepared clones for rapid identification of target sequences. For proteomic applications, His-tag proteins were purified from bacterial cultures in a 96-well plate format. Following purification, a Bradford assay was used to determine the quantitative yields of the His-tag protein products in each of the aliquots from the purified samples. The AD 340 Automated Labware Positioner (ALP), an integrated absorbance reader, was used for absorbance measurements in the Bradford assay. Given the placement of this ALP on the deck of the Biomek NX, the entire process of protein purification and quantitation was performed in a complete walk-away automated format. Results obtained when purifying proteins, from both uninduced and induced bacterial cultures, on the worksurface of the Biomek NX will be described.