Syngene announced its G:BOX Chemi XRQ multi-application imager is being used in the School of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol.
To Image Proteins Associated with Fibrosis, Angiogenesis and Wound Healing
Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, today announced its G:BOX Chemi XRQ multi-application imager is being used in the School of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol, one of UK’s best biochemistry departments, in the laboratory of Prof. Jo Adams, to rapidly generate more accurate images of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins associated with fibrosis, angiogenesis and wound healing.
Researchers in the School of Biochemistry are using a G:BOX Chemi XRQ multi-application system for imaging ECL-based chemiluminescent Western blots to accurately detect changes in thrombospondins, secreted glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. The data produced are providing information which the scientists at the University of Bristol are using to understand how these proteins regulate the interaction between cells and the ECM.
Dr Andrew Hellewell, Research Associate in Prof. Adams’ laboratory in the School of Biochemistry stated: “The thrombospondin proteins we are studying can form oligomers which are larger than 200 kDa but can have low expression so it is very difficult using chemiluminescent blots and X-ray film to get the exposure just right to detect these proteins. In fact, we used to have to stagger our film exposure times and use multiple films to get a perfect image of the proteins we’re looking for, which was very time consuming, and risked over-exposure.”
Andrew added: “We tried to automate the image capture using a blot scanner but the scanner wasn’t big enough to accommodate the 20cm by 20cm gels and blots so we had to cut these, do two image runs and put the images together afterwards which is not ideal. We then decided to install the Syngene G:BOX Chemi XRQ because this system can accurately image large gels and blots with ease. Using the G:BOX Chemi XRQ we can leave the system capturing multiple images and exposures and can always detect our proteins quantitatively even when the signal is faint, avoiding the risk of over-exposure. This means we can analyse our chemi blots more easily and have much more confidence in our results.”
To find out how a G:BOX Chemi XRQ system could improve the accuracy of your chemi blot analysis, click this link: www.syngene.com/g-box-chemi-XRQ/
“We’re pleased that researchers at Bristol University are using a Syngene image analysis system to improve the precision and throughput of their fundamental research,” states Dr Martin Biggs, Sales Manager at Syngene. “Their work with the G:BOX Chemi XRQ demonstrates the power of technology to produce quality images of poorly expressed proteins on even the largest chemiluminescent Western blots.”
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For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Syngene, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727123 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@syngene.com Web: www.syngene.com/g-box-chemi-XRQ/
Twitter: @TeamSyngene
Dr Andrew Hellewell, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD UK.
Tel: 0117-3312361 Fax: 0117-3312168
Email: andrew.hellewell@bristol.ac.uk Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biochemistry/
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Web: www.internationalsciencewriter.com Twitter: @IScienceWriter
About Syngene
Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists world-wide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.
Syngene, founded in 1997, is a division of the Synoptics Group of the AIM listed Scientific Digital Imaging Company based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Synbiosis and Synoptics Health, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microbial and clinical applications respectively. Synoptics, which celebrated its 30th anniversary of being in business in 2015, currently employs 40 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA.
About the School of Biochemistry
The emphasis of the School of Biochemistry at Bristol University is on the biomolecular processes that underpin human health and disease. These approaches dominate both its research and teaching programmes.
Research studies at the School of Biochemistry extend from fundamental single-molecule studies of biomolecules through to whole cell imaging. The research falls into three overlapping research clusters: Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology, Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism and Synthetic Biology. For REF2014, Biochemistry, submitted along with the School of Biological Sciences, was ranked 18th (of 41) nationally based on GPA alone and 6th on an intensity-weighted GPA demonstrating the breadth of research excellence across Biochemistry. Research in the School of Biochemistry is supported by approximately £9 million of competitively awarded, external income per year.
