What is the BIOFAB?
The UW Biofabrication Center (BIOFAB) is a unique service laboratory operating through the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department at the University of Washington. Clients use the Aquarium software to store sample information and remotely submit molecular biology and microbiology jobs. Technicians in the BIOFAB execute the protocols and upload the results to Aquarium. Therefore, cloning projects can be executed from start to finish, without the client ever having to touch a pipette! Records of all jobs and samples are permanently stored in the Aquarium inventory database, eliminating the need for messy lab notebooks and complex inventory systems.
Services
Plasmid Construction and Verification
Using Aquarium, the BIOFAB team can build plasmids and E. coli strains from scratch. Our cloning workflow includes:
- Primer ordering via IDT
- PCRs
- Gel electrophoresis
- DNA isolation and purification
- Plasmid assemblies using Gibson and Golden Gate methods
- Electrocompetent E. coli transformations
- Sanger sequencing verification via Genewiz
Yeast Strain Construction and Verification
With the BIOFAB, it is easy to create novel yeast strains for experiments. Our yeast workflow includes:
- Preparation of competent yeast cells
- Yeast transformations
- Strain verification via colony PCR and QIAxcel Bioanalyzer
- Yeast mating available upon request
Media and Reagent Preparation
To support DNA, E. coli and yeast protocols. Available upon request.
Yeast Media
- Liquid/plates: YPAD, Synthetic Complete (SC), Synthetic Drop Out (SDO), SGCAA
- Yeast selective media: SDO –Histidine, SDO –Tryptophan, SDO –Uracil, SDO –Leucine, SDO –Lysine
- Yeast antibiotics: Geneticin (Kan/G418), Bleomycin (Bleo/Zeocin), Hygromycin (Hyg), and Nourseothricin (Nat/ClonNat)
Bacterial Media- Liquid/plates: LB, TB
- Bacterial antibiotics: Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol, Spectinomycin
Protein Engineering and Cell Sorting
The BIOFAB can assist with yeast surface display experiments, including:
- DNA library amplification and assembly
- Preparation and transformation of electrocompetent yeast cells
- De novo protein stability assays (using Rocklin et al. 2017 workflow)
- High-throughput protein binder and small molecule binding assays
- Cell sorting (FACS)
- Amplicon NGS prep and Illumina sequencing
People
Management and Admin
Eric Klavins
Director
Aza Allen
Lab Manager
