CCR Dedicated Cores

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

Center for Molecular Microscopy (CMM) is an interdisciplinary "research collaboratory," located primarily at the ATRF, specifically aimed at applying recent cutting-edge advances in the field of 3D electron microscopy to important problems within the CCR portfolio. The research program of CMM includes the development and application of novel methods for cellular imaging using correlative light and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and molecular imaging using cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. There is a broad array of cryo-EM techniques available from preparing raw samples to determining structures Genomics Technologies Lab (GTL) provides services to CCR investigators in next-generation sequencing, development of unique genomic assays, Whole Exome capture and sequencing, targeted gene panel sequencing, CRISPER screening and validation and other specialized nucleic acid detection technologies. The Protein Expression Lab (PEL) provides dedicated support to CCR investigators for cloning of expression constructs, protein expression, and protein purification. New technologies developed include rapid purification to speed up microscale scouting of purification conditions and new tagging strategies for purification of metal containing proteins. The Protein Characterization Lab (PCL) provides dedicated support to CCR investigators for protein quantitation, identification and characterization. PCL provides comprehensive mass spectrometry for proteomics, metabolomics, and macromolecular interactions. PCL developed several targeted panel assays for cellular metabolite pathways and streamlined T cell metabolite extraction. PCL also developed methods allowing for global proteomics/phosphopeptide and metabolomics in working with small sample size. The Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory (OMAL) provides, develops and applies technologies for quantitatively understanding the molecular basis of cancer and HIV infection in the spatial-temporal context at the molecular and tissue level. The available technologies range from standard fluorescence microscopy to super-resolution and intra-vital two-photon imaging, and computational capabilities for visualization and analysis, including multiplex staining of tissues and cells including the Akoya CODEX technology. The CCR-Sequencing Facility uses high throughput sequencing technologies at the leading edge of the technologies. As needed this facility establishes new automation pipelines and works toward standardizing pipelines, metadata collection and data archiving. Single Cell sequencing for RNA sequencing, immune profiling, transposase accessible chromatin, etc. has been developed and is available. Single cell bioinformatics analysis occurs in this core as well.