Carl Zeiss SlideCollector 48 simplifies and automates single cell gene expression analysis

One of the major problems inherent in the expression analysis of single cells is the large amount of sample handling involved and the subsequent high risk of contamination as cells isolated and harvested using laser microdissection are manually transferred to an assay plate for expression analysis. Until now, the only way to safeguard that the genetic data collected was from cells of interest and not from surrounding tissue has been to perform numerous repeat experiments.

The answer, according to Carl Zeiss, is the new SlideCollector 48 for the PALM Microbeam and PALM CombiSystem. The SlideCollector 48 enables the seamless integration of non-contact Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) and single-cell AmpliGrid assay technology into one continuous, automated workflow. This ensures the highest levels of sample purity for applications in immunobiology, genetics, cancer research, stem cell research and forensics. In addition, the 1 microlitre assay cells minimise reagent costs, enabling a wide variety of single cell analyses.

Single cells are cut out and isolated from the surrounding tissue or cell culture using the precise laser microdissection offered by the PALM Microbeam. The SlideCollector 48 then positions any one of the AmpliGrid’s reaction sites directly above the dissected cell, which is lifted out of the specimen and into the reaction site by the PALM Microbeam’s Laser Pressure Catapulting (LPC) capabilities. Because single cells can be easily harvested in this way without contaminating tissue, conventional cell pooling steps are unnecessary. If the SlideCollector 48 is combined with the PALM RoboMover automatic collection unit, it offers completely automatic cell harvesting and isolation into single cell assay reactors.

The SlideCollector 48 is compatible with all currently available applications of the PALM MicroBeam and PALM CombiSystem.