NuGEN and Hamilton increase sample throughput for gene expression
analysis
18 September 2008
NuGEN Technologies, Inc., a privately held company that develops and
commercializes nucleic acid amplification and sample preparation
systems, and the Hamilton Company, a world leader in precision liquid
handling have assembled an automated, total target preparation solution
that increases the throughput in processing large sets of clinical
samples for global gene expression analysis.
The validated solution, consisting of NuGEN’s Ovation Systems and the
Hamilton MICROLAB STARlet bench-top liquid handling system, was
carefully engineered to increase throughput and improve workflow for
small RNA samples commonly used in clinical signature and biomarker
discovery.
This fully integrated solution manages a full range of target
preparation functions — RNA amplification, purification, fragmentation,
and labeling — for gene expression analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip
and HT arrays. The net result of its improved workflow includes not only
increased throughput, but higher reproducibility, reduced hands-on
intervention, and the ability to process RNA from a wide spectrum of
clinical samples including whole blood, biopsies, and laser-captured
micro-dissected specimens.
According to Dr. Joe Don Heath, NuGEN senior director, technical
marketing and automation solutions, the NuGEN/Hamilton collaboration was
inspired by the automation requirements of a mutual customer. “An
important customer challenged us to develop a solution that would round
out the workflow methodology supporting a variety of valuable studies,”
noted Heath. “It made sense for NuGEN and Hamilton to partner on the
initiative, each bringing its own products and expertise to the table.”
“NuGEN brought proven reagents and protocols; Hamilton delivered the
tools and years of automation expertise,” explained Dr. Roland Borner,
senior product manager, genomics, Hamilton Bonaduz AG. “Together, we
created a solution the customer could easily validate, replicate, and
deploy across a range of important studies.”
Thanks to the Hamilton STAR line’s modularity, the system can be
easily adapted to different throughput requirements. The bench-top
MICROLAB STARlet platform, for example, can be upgraded on-site to a
STARplus, nearly doubling the capacity of the automated system. This
modularity is also true for STAR pipetting options—up to 16 individual
pipetting channels can be combined with any of HAMILTON’s multiprobe
heads for increased throughput (96, 384 or nano).
According to Heath, the customer tested and validated the joint NuGEN/Hamilton
solution on a MICROLAB STARlet platform with eight individual channels.
The target preparation process was remarkably efficient from RNA
amplification through cDNA labeling. It saved the customer’s research
team both time and labor, while fulfilling the challenge for a more
robust, automated sample preparation methodology.
The target preparation process will be used in a number of upcoming
gene expression profiling projects where RNA starting material is
limited.