MEMOBIO

Molecular and Biochemical Methods Applied to Ecology

Scientific manager : Jean-Philippe DAVID
Technical expertise : Thierry GAUDE, Frédéric LAPORTE, Sophie PERIGON

This technical platform carries out analyses on different biological supports (nucleic acids, proteins and molecules) applied to ecology. Biological models are isolated organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) taken in the field or cultivated in the laboratory.

The analyses carried out include molecular analyses targeted at genes, DNA and RNA (extraction, purification and determination of nucleic acids, PCR, qPCR, RT-qPCR, cloning, sequencing, etc.) and protein analyses (extraction, purification and determination, separation/chromatography, blots and enzymology, spectrography, etc.).

The MEMOBIO platform also enables chemical analyses to be carried out on natural or anthropogenic molecules and their metabolites in the different compartments of the ecosystem and living organisms (extractive and analytical chemistry).

Main skills and techniques

Molecular Biology :

Nucleic acid (DNA, RNA) extraction and 96-well plate assay
DNA amplification by PCR, reverse transcription, enzymatic digestions
DNA/RNA quantification and genotyping by real-time quantitative PCR (96 and 384 wells)
Sanger sequencing and sequence analysis

Biochemistry :

Extraction and purification and protein dosage and analysis by electrophoresis and chromatography
Enzymology by spectrography (UV/Vis) and analysis of fluorescence and luminometry
Extraction/separation of organic compounds

How the MEMOBIO platform works

The technical platform MEMOBIO is composed of 4 laboratories with a total surface of 144 m2 distributed within the LECA. It proposes various specific analysis modules and provides users with the chemical products and consumables of common use. Before any use of the technical platform, a project sheet must be established, the internal rules and the charter of use of the platform signed. Users are also encouraged to attend the monthly technical meetings to plan the use of the equipment, to request technical assistance and to discuss technical developments within the platform.

Pricing (internal academic, external academic or external) is indicated on the charter and half of the invoicing is done at the beginning and adjusted at the end of the project.

Main equipment

– Biorad CFX96 and CFX384 Real Time PCR systems
– Biorad IQ5 Multicolor Real Time PCR System
– Laminar flow hood MSC II
– Nanodrop Spectrophotometer ND-1000
– Qubit quantification system (tube or 96 wells)
– Gradient thermocycler
– Thermo multifunctional microplate reader
– Varioskan Flash (UV/Visible/Fluo/lumino)
– High quality two-beam spectrophotometer
– Rotavapor (organic extraction)
– Freezer -20°C and -80°C (storage)
– Electrophoresis tanks