ACAPELLA, a capillary-based submicroliter automated sample preparation system for genome analysis

Abstract

The Genomation Laboratory in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Washington has been developing an automated, high-throughput submicroliter-scale reaction preparation system for use in molecular biology, especially as part of the Human Genome Project and other high-throughput DNA sequencing endeavors. Small glass capillaries enable the preparation, handling and monitoring of one-microliter reaction volumes. The Genomation Laboratory, with corporate partners Orca Photonic Systems, Inc. and Engineering Arts, has developed modules for aspiration, dispensing, mixing, transport and rapid thermal treatment of biological samples contained in glass capillaries. The "ACAPELLA 1K" is the first integration of these modules, designed to process 1, OOO samples in an 8-hour day. It has served as a test bed for the technologies as well as for performing biological experiments in conjunction with the University of Washington Genome Center. The Genomation Laboratory is presently developing the next-stage "ACAPELLA 5K" system based on the results of the ACAPELLA 1K system

A Method For Parallel, Automated, Thermal Cycling of Submicroliter Samples

“…The use of capillaries as sample containers has long been recognized as a superior way of performing thermal cycling on small-volume samples (Wittwer et al 1989;Meldrum 1997;Meldrum et al 2000). The challenges posed by this technique arise in interfacing the capillary format to standard microtiter plate formats, and in accurately aspirating and dispensing reactions into and out of the capillary tubing (typically a small diameter glass tube).…”

“…This is particularly appropriate now that automated capillary sequencers with high sensitivity are available (e.g., ABI 3700, PE Biosystems; MegaBACE 1000, Amersham Molecular Dynamics). Standard, full-volume reactions produce hundreds of times more products than are actually required to achieve a reasonable signal on these instruments (Meldrum et al 2000).…”

Automatic Liquid Handling for Life Science: A Critical Review of the Current State of the Art

“…50,[108][109][110] Still, most laboratories prefer commercially available ones since there are many components or integrated workstations for various purposes and at a reasonable cost.…”

Automation for Genomics, Part One: Preparation for Sequencing

“…The Genomation Laboratory at the University of Washington (http://rcs.ee.washington.edu/GNL/ genomation.html) has been designing and building an automated, multi-purpose, submicroliter to microliter fluid handling system for processes such as restriction enzyme digests, PCRs, and sequencing reactions (Arutunian et al 1998;Daoura and Meldrum 1999;Evensen et al 1998;Friedman and Meldrum 1998;Meldrum et al 2000;Sjoboen and Meldrum 1998). The system, called Acapella, processes 5000 glass capillaries in eight hours with one sample/capillary and total reaction volumes of 1-2 µL.…”

“…With the recent trend toward miniaturization of processes in genome analysis, more systems are being developed that can handle submicroliter fluid volumes (e.g. Meldrum 1997 andMeldrum et al 2000).…”