Welcome to Genomics and Bioenformatics Cores

Transgenic/Knockout Core

The transgenic/knockout facility at The University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, is equipped with all the necessary hoods, incubators, microscopes, micro injectors and micromanipulators to produce embryonic stem cells and transgenic and knockout mice. The facility is in operation and producing KO and transgenic mice and also provides advice and expertise to interested faculty. The facility currently has one Ph.D.-level, full-time staff person that generates transgenic and KO/chimeric mice for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

For additional information contact:
Ioannis Dragatsis, Ph.D., Director
Physiology
Email: idragats@utmem.edu
(901) 448-3615
(901) 448-5822 (alternate)

 

The DNA Discovery Core

This Core has three elements:

  • Service: The core will provide genome screening and polymorphic detection for research and education in UT and other institutions in Tennessee. Meanwhile, the core will continue develop and modify protocols for faster processes and lower costs during services. The Center has purchased a SpectruMedix genetic analysis machine to aid in the detection of genetic abnormalities.
  • Research: The core serves as a resource for the development of research projects that involves in genetic mapping, fi ne mapping, genome screening, DNA sequencing, and positional cloning.
  • Education: The core will serve as an education and training base for genetic and genomic analyses. Technique training currently includes genomic analysis and genome comparison, genome screening, simple sequence repeat length polymorphism (SSLP) analysis, Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection, and DNA sequencing.

For additional information contact:
Weikuan Gu, Ph.D., Director
Orthopaedic Surgery
Email: wgu@utmem.edu
(901) 448-2259
(901) 448-5880 (alternate)

 

Mouse Resource Core for Cancer Genetics

The aims of this Core include:

  • Maintain and distribute to our researchers a wide variety of common strains of mice that have been critical in
    cancer biology.
  • Generate novel mouse strains as part of the Complex Trait Consortium. These lines will be distributed to the
    cancer biologist.
  • Generate new mutants in key genes known to be involved in cancer progression, surveillance, metastasis using novel
    methods developed at ORNL and UTHSC.
  • Core facilities for genotype verifi cation and quality assurance.
  • Core mouse bioinformatics module to allow investigators simple tools to track mouse breeding and use in
    experimental protocols.

For additional information contact:
Robert Williams, Ph.D., Director
Anatomy and Neurobiology
Email: rwilliam@nb.utmem.edu
(901) 448-7050
(901) 448-5965 (alternate)

 

Bioinformatics Core

In addition to Dr. Cui, the Core’s faculty includes Julia Krushkal Ph.D. and Rongling Li, Ph.D. who have expertise in statistical genetics and genetic epidemiology. The Core is in the process of buying a Linux Beowulf cluster with at least 32 Intel Pentium Xeon 2.4GMHz processors. This will provide the computational
power to explore the core problems of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology like genetic network modeling; protein structure prediction and genome-wide DNA sequence analysis. Researchers will have access to expert help in the analysis of regulatory networks from genome-wide gene expression data. A programmer and a systems administrator staff the Core. Drs. Krushkal and Li have developed and are teaching introductory and advanced courses in Bioinformatics. These would be open to Center personnel.

For additional information contact:
Yan Cui, Ph.D., Director
Molecular Sciences
Email: ycui2@utmem.edu
(901) 448-3240
(901) 448-6150 (alternate)

 

Proteomics Core

This core helps researchers identify protein expression patterns that are altered in development, growth, aging and disease. The Center, in conjunction with the College of Medicine, has invested in two state of the art mass spectrometers to assist in the identifi cation of protein expression, a workstation for the visualization of protein spots, software for the determination of protein differences, and a robotics system for the excision and processing of proteins for mass spectroscopic analysis. Currently, the Laboratory for Protein Analysis and Proteomics is equipped with the following mass spectrometers: a Bruker Ultrafl ex matrix-assisted-laser-desorption/ionization-Time-of-Flight refl ector mass spectrometer (MALDI-ToFToF) and a Sciex API (Atmospheric Pressure Ionization) QStar DE
electrospray mass spectrometer. The MALDI-ToFToF is the primary instrument for proteomics identifi cations from polyacrylamide. The Proteomics laboratory offers customized support and advice for every individual investigator desiring access. The format of the laboratory permits users to quickly become advanced and heavy users of proteomics in their research. This didactic and practical experience gained by investigators in the Proteomics laboratory ensures that protein mass
spectrometry will be used effectively and accurately as a powerful research tool in the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee, Memphis.

For additional information contact:
George Hilliard, Ph.D., Director
Molecular Sciences
Email: ghilliard@utmem.edu
(901) 448-6779
(901) 448-6150 (alternate)
www.utmem.edu/proteomics