The Purdue Flow Cytometry and Cell Separation Shared Resource (FC-SR) provides advanced cell and particle analysis, and sorting capabilities to Purdue University Center for Cancer Research (PCCR) members. As an analytical tool, flow cytometry allows users to identify and quantitate cellular features, organelles, or structural components using optical measures. When combined with sorting capabilities, it is possible to identify and isolate single cells that have specific properties or express specific molecules and which can then be further examined and characterized. In cancer research, where the identification and characterization of unique, specific cells with cancer-like characteristics is critical, flow cytometry and cell sorting are extremely vital and useful to today’s cancer researcher.

The FC-SR, located in the Bindley Bioscience Center (BBC) of Discovery Park, has grown considerably in both its technical expertise and instrument capabilities since its total re-organization in March 2009. A major emphasis of the facility is live cell sorting of mouse and human cells under BSL-2 conditions. In 2010 with support from an NIH S10 Shared Instrument Grant, the FC-SR obtained a high-throughput LEAP image scanning cytometer. This instrument adds an additional dimension to sorting of attached cells by laser ablation and serves as a bridge between flow cytometry and image analysis capabilities. The FC-SR also operates a FACS Aria III Sorter that serves as the primary workhorse for analysis and cell sorting. Currently, the facilty also operates a FC500 Cell Analyzer for routine cell analyses. The data analysis capabilities of the facility have advanced greatly with the addition of many FlowJo site licenses and the development of new advanced data analysis capabilities.

BD FACSAria III Cell Sorter:

The BD FACSAria III is a 5-laser, 14-color, 16-parameter high speed cell sorter with temperature control and housed within a biosafety cabinet for sorting of biohazardous samples. Wavelength excitation choices now include 405-nm, 488-nm, 561-nm, 633-nm and 355-nm (UV) lasers. With the advanced gel-coupled cuvette and octagon- and trigon-shaped detector arrays that maximize signal detection, the BD FACSAria III represents the state of the art in cell sorting. In addition, we will also do analysis-only experiments on the FACS Aria that require greater than four colors.

Beckman Coulter FC500:

The FC500 is a flow cytometry analyzer with two laser excitation wavelengths, 488nm and 615nm that can measure up to 5 colors simultaneously. This cytometer is available for operation by students and staff. It runs samples in 96 well plates or 12x75 tubes. This instrument is used for immunophenotyping, phophoprotein analysis, DNA analysis, cell cycle, and functional assays.

Cyntellect LEAP:

The LEAP (Laser Enabled Analysis and Processing) is a microplate-based, interactive image cytometer with laser photoablative sorting of either attached or suspension cells. For more information about LEAP please read the article "Scanning Cytometry with a LEAP".

• • • 
  • • Shared Resource Director: James Leary, Ph.D.
    • E-mail: jfleary@purdue.edu
    
    
    • Shared Resource Manager: Jeffrey Woodliff
    • E-mail: jwoodlif@purdue.edu
    • Phone: (765) 494 - 3505, (765) 943 - 1113
    • Building/Room: BIND 233

• Location of Flow Cytometry SR Facility