ayout 1 - EMBL Grenoble

Core Facilities
Flow Cytometry Core Facility
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility offers a range of flow cytometric techniques. The equipment
adds flexibility in the preparation and execution of experiments allowing different approaches to
research problems. Our facility meets researchers’ needs and enables better resolution in terms of
analysis and product.
The goal of the facility is to proactively introduce flow cytometric methods into new research areas
while supporting and extending current research.
Major projects and accomplishments
• The analysis of algae life cycle project relied on the intrinsic fluorophores in algae to
identify life cycle stages. It required photosaturation of the photosynthetic units in the
algae.
• Cell cloning by Darwinian selection required a series of single cell sorts of a target
population into 96-well plate in order to select a stable integrated gene into a cell line.
• There is a project investigating a bi-stable state of a reworked bacterial signalling
cascades that requires precise and accurate instrument measurements of the bacteria in
order for them to be identified.
Andrew Riddell
BSc Hons 1992, Paisley
University.
PgDip, 1993, Caledonian
University, Glasgow.
Work at the MRC LMB and
CIMR and Hutchison/MRC,
Cambridge.
Facility Head at EMBL since
2003.
• The apoptosis project uses a novel FRET assay in order to identify apoptosis in a cell
line.
• An ongoing project, in collaboration with the University of Heidelberg’s Chemistry Department, investigates the flow cytometric
analysis of cellular uptake of novel synthetically produced probes.
Services provided
• Sorting heterogeneous single cell populations into homogeneous populations for experiments.
• Providing an analysis of single cell populations based on fluorescent probes and light intensities (including light scattering and polarisation).
• Providing expertise in flow cytometric techniques for use in experiments.
• Providing advice in the use of flow cytometry.
• Developing novel flow cytometric techniques for use in the EMBL’s scientific activities.
Technology partners
We work with equipment from
Cytopeia Inc., DAKO, Becton
Dickinson, Union Biometrica
and Miltenyi Biotec. We are open
to test new technological developments
to best serve the needs
of the scientific community.
Deflection illumination for calibrating droplet break-off point.
Selected references
Polycarpou-Schwarz, M., Muller, K., Denger, S., Riddell, A., Lewis,
J.D., Gannon, F. & Reid, G. (2007). Thanatop: a novel 5-nitrofuran
that is a highly active, cell-permeable inhibitor of topoisomerase II.
Cancer Res., 67, 51-8
Füssl, A., Schleifenbaum, A., Goritz, M., Riddell, A., Schultz, C. &
Kramer, R. (2006). Cellular uptake of PNA-terpyridine conjugates and
its enhancement by Zn(2+) Ions. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 128, 5986-7
Fairley, E.A., Riddell, A., Ellis, J.A. & Kendrick-Jones, J. (2002). The
cell cycle dependent mislocalisation of emerin may contribute to the
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy phenotype. J. Cell Sci., 115,
31-35
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