Cell sorter

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 446327964

Different cell types within one organism and even individual cells with identical functions within one organ differ both, qualitatively and quantitatively with respect to epigenetic modifications, transcriptome, proteome, and posttranslational modifications. Heterogeneity is also observed in clonal cell lines. So far, our knowledge on the benefits and disadvantages of cellular heterogeneity for robustness and plasticity of biological systems is limited. A better understanding of causes and consequences of cellular heterogeneity will help us to understand specific possibly pathological reactions in response to increased or reduced heterogeneity. Beside inherent heterogeneity of eukaryotic cells, heterogeneity is also induced by genetical modification of cells by methods such as CRISPR/Cas9. Heterogeneity of modified cells may affect the experimental outcome and thereby reduce the improvement of knowledge.Isolation of defined cell types, individual single cells, and even individual cell nuclei from primary tissues, in vitro organ models, or (genetically modified) cell lines is gaining importance in molecular biological and biomedical research. This enables to i) understand the consequences and causes of inherent heterogeneity for physiological and pathophysiological processes and ii) to reduce experimental artefacts caused by clonal features. Cell sorter enable to isolate cell populations and single cells based on fluorescent markers. The isolated cells can either be cultivated further or analysed directly.We apply for a compact, user-friendly cell sorter with automated fast setup. We need a cell sorter with temperature control to protect sensitive cell types during sorting. Cell sorting requires 6 fluorescence- and 2 scatter-channels to enable sorting cells with several markers. Beside two-way sorting of cell populations indexed isolation of single cells into 384-well plates is essential. The cell sorter will be operated independently of a core facility in the department of Systems Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg where it will be used by all groups involved.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Zellsorter
• Instrumentation Group: 3500 Zellzähl- und Klassiergeräte (außer Blutanalyse), Koloniezähler
• Applicant Institution: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Fred Schaper