Dyversity 2D Gel Image Analyser used at Major UK University To Help Accurately Detect Proteins Associated with Stem Cell Differentiation

December 12 2007 Cambridge, UK: Cambridge, UK: Syngene, a world-leading manufacturer of image analysis solutions, is pleased to announce that one of the UK’s top universities, Imperial College London, is using Dyversity, Syngene’s innovative 2D gel imaging system,
to assist in precise identification of proteins associated with directing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to a particular cell lineage.

Scientists in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College are using Dyversity to rapidly image 2D DIGE (Differential Gel Electrophoresis) gels containing Cy dye labelled proteins. The proteins were isolated from two different conditioned media, where both media direct murine ESCs to differentiate into mesoderm lineages. Therefore, by identifying and analysing any common proteins seen on the Dyversity images, researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in collaboration with the stem cell bio-processing group in the
Department of Chemical Engineering, hope to determine which signalling factors direct differentiation.

Dr Judit Nagy, Director of Proteomics Facility, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, commented: “Due to the potential for ESCs to develop into any cell line, they could become a good source of bone tissue, for example. However, before we can use ESC in this way, we have to find out which proteins direct differentiation and this is where we hope our proteomics approach using 2D DIGE gels and MALDI-TOF
analysis will provide some clues.”
 
“We use Dyversity as part of this work because it is capable of generating high res-olution images of our 2D DIGE gels in a few minutes, which is very important when we compare different gels to locate common proteins,“ concluded Dr Nagy.

Laura Sullivan, Syngene’s Divisional Manager stated: “We are delighted to see our Dyversity system being used as part of critical stem cell research at such a  prestigious university like Imperial College. Their application shows that Dyversity is a high performance system capable of imaging very complex 2D protein gels & should be seen as an invaluable tool for any proteomics research programmes.
 

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For Further Information Contact:
Jayne Arthur, Syngene, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.
Tel: +44(0) 1223-727123 Fax +44 (0) 1223-727101
Email: jayne.arthur@syngene.com  Web site: www.syngene.com 

Dr Judit Nagy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, Bessemer building, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)20 75943140 Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 0704
Email: j.nagy@imperial.ac.uk  Web site: www.imperial.ac.uk

Editor Contact:
Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.
Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1462-635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors

About Syngene

Syngene is a world-leading supplier of integrated imaging solutions for analysis and documentation of gel-based information. Syngene’s systems are used by more than 10,000 research organizations organisations and over 50,000 individual scientists world-wide and include many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and major research institutes.

Syngene, founded in 1997 is a division of the Cambridge based Synoptics Group. The Group’s other divisions, Syncroscopy and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for microscopy and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 60 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA.

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (11,500) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.