Category: methods and protocols

Gas-liquid reactor gives continuous-flow carbonylation

A NEW approach to gas/liquid reactions has resulted in a protocol to reproducibly perform carbonylation chemistry under continuous flow through conditions. Using a Uniqsis GAM II gas-liquid reactor, laboratory scientists at Sygnature Discovery in Nottingham, UK, developed the method to…

Electrocompetent cells promise higher electroporation efficiency

A NEW product from Amsbio, CloneCatcher Gold DH5G electrocompent E coli cells, exhibit extremely high electroporation efficiencies that approach the theoretical maximum of 3.4×10^11cfu/ug pUC19 DNA.  Transferring exogenous DNA into E coli is a standard laboratory method for cloning genes…

Protocol shows way to improved sulphur determination

A PROPRIETARY inductive coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) sample preparation protocol allowing regular, reproducible detection of sulphur at trace levels of only tens of parts-per-million (ppm) has been developed by Warwick Analytical Service. The company says the new…

Five-step programme to good pipetting practice

FEW OPERATIONS are as fundamental to modern laboratory practice as pipetting, which plays a vital role in a great many experiments. The importance of accuracy and repeatability which applies to all lab operations is especially relevant here, as any errors…

Methods for detection of dioxins in eggs

RESPONDING to the latest food scare in Europe, in which chicken eggs have been found to contain up to four times the permitted level of dioxins, Thermo Fisher has drawn attention to the test methods it has developed to detect…

New mass spec proteomics technique is ‘breakthrough’

A ‘GROUNDBREAKING’ new proteomics technique now available quantifies nearly all peptides and proteins in a single analysis, says AB Sciex. The mass spectrometry-based method was published recently in the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spec…

Benchtop 454 sequencer gets software upgrade

A SOFTWARE upgrade for Roche’s 454 GS Junior benchtop next-generation genomic sequencing system promises better sequencing consistency. The 454 GS Junior is a benchtop version of the Genome Sequencer FLX, and says Roche has become well established in a number…

More efficient collagen coating of plates and flasks

A REGULAR but tedious task in many laboratories is the coating of disposable items of labware with extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen or fibronectin before performing cell culture operations. Now an application note from Integra Biosciences demonstrates how this…

How to determine CHN in volatile samples

A KEY factor in predicting the performance of petroleum fuels and lubricants is the percentage of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen (CHN) they contain. However, the volatile nature of these materials means that conventional elemental analysis is difficult to carry out.…