The Laboratory of Experimental Oncology offers several core facilities to its participants, as well as to participants of the Genomics Center Utrecht. The core facilities operated by the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology were purchased in january 2005 by the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and financed by the Genomics Center. In addition, we share outher facilities with the Genomics Center, such as Delta Vision microscope, Mass spectometry facility and a core sequencing unit. Users can only operate our facilities after a training session given by one of the administrators: Livio Kleij (L.Kleij.at.umcutrecht.nl) or Rob Klompmaker (R.Klompmaker.at.umcutrecht.nl).
Zeiss LSM 510 Meta
Our Zeiss LSM 510 Meta is equipped with the Violet Diode, Argon, Yellow Diode and Helium/Neon lasers to allow multi-color confocal microscopy, protein colocalisation, FRET, FRAP, photo-activation and spectral unmixing. Also, the microscope can be fitted with heated stage insert and objective heater to allow short-term live imaging, using CO2-independent culture medium. The microscope (Zeiss Axiovert 200M) is fitted with the following objectives: PLAN-Neofluar 10x/0.3, EC PLAN-Neofluar 20x/0.5, EC-PLAN-Neofluar Oil-DIC 40x/1.3, Plan Apochromat Oil-DIC 63x/1.4) and is equipped with a motorized stage for z-stacking or multi-position acquisition. Image acquisition and analysis is performed using Zeiss LSM 510 Software.
Time-lapse Fluorescence Microscopes (2)
Our time-lapse fluorescence microscopes are build up with components from a variety of suppliers, to obtain the necessary sensitivity combined with the lowest possible photo-toxicity. The microscopes are from Zeiss (Axiovert 200M, Objectives: Fluar 20x/0.75, F-Fluar 40x/1.3 Oil, Plan-Neofluar 63x/1.25 Oil) and are equipped with a motorized stage for multi-position acquisition and a halogen lamp for DIC. The Lambda DG-4 Ultra High Speed Wavelength Switcher from Sutter Instruments serves as our light source for fluorescence imaging The microscopes are equipped with large cell culture incubators, heated stage inserts (holding a single well dish up to an 8 multiwell dish) and CO2 supply. For digital image acquisition a Photometrics CoolSnapHQ camera is used. Image acquisition and analysis is performed using Metamorph Software.
BD FACSCalibur
This benchtop flowcytometer has a four-color fluorescence capability in a 2 laser system set-up. CellQuest Pro is the software in use for acquisition and analysis of data. Furthermore the machine is provided with a FACSFlow Supply System that ensures the user of continuity during operation.
Arrayscan
For all our cell-based high-throughput assays, we have an ArrayScan VTI HCS Reader from Cellomics. This setup includes a Zeiss fluorescence microscope with cooled 12-bit CCD camera and fully automated stage controller. The system includes 4 different objectives for maximal flexibility. In addition, automated high content live imaging is possible with the live cell chamber. Image analysis is performed using Cellomics integrated software, including possibilities for cell tracking, analysis of object morphology and fluorescence intensity quantification.