The Drosophila RNAi Screening Center (DRSC) facilitates genome-wide and related cell-based RNAi screening in Drosophila for researchers from around the world. Since its beginning in 2003, the DRSC has successfully guided HMS and visiting screeners through the process, including help with assay development and optimization, data and image analysis, and planning of follow-up assays. The DRSC provides screeners with the equipment and guidance needed for RNAi screening and a full-genome library of dsRNAs for RNAi knockdown or one of several specialized functional sub-libraries. Screens performed at the DRSC have resulted in an impressive number of publications on a wide range of topics in high-profile journals.

At the DRSC, our first priorities are RNAi reagent production and DRSC screens. However, we work hard to make instruments available for other projects by Genetics department members on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the DRSC Director if you are interested to access any of the following pieces of equipment.

Assay Readouts:

Perkin Elmer Evotec Opera. This instrument supports automated confocal fluorescence imaging in 96-well or 384-well plates. We have 20x 40x and 60x water immersion lenses and four lasers. Training and hourly usage fees apply.

LiCor Aerius. This instrument supports automated plate-reading, in particular ‘in-cell Westerns’ or other dual-label approaches, and fluorescence-labeled gel visualization. Secondary antibodies or dyes in the far-red range only.

Molecular Devices Paradigm. This is a standard plate-reader (fluorimeter/luminometer) for detection of luciferase and some fluorescence outputs at the whole plate-well level.

Liquid and Tube Handling:

FluidX Xtp-1152 Tube Sorter for 2D barcode labeled tubes. This instrument does and automated 2D barcode scan and cherry-picks or re-arrays 2D tubes in 96-well plate format racks. Great for large bacterial glycerol stock collections.

Agilent Velocity11 Bravo liquid handling robot with stacker and plate sealer. We use this instrument a lot so there is limited availability. It can do 96-to96 and 96-to-384 liquid handling projects and some additional liquid handling protocols.

Other instruments for liquid addition and aspiration. We also have a WellMate for 8-channel liquid addition, such for adding media or other liquids to 96- or 384-well plates; a 384-well format vacuum aspirator; and 12-channel aspiration wands.