NextGen Sciences Ltd introduces a new suite of revolutionary tools for molecular biology and protein research
30th September 2004 NextGen Sciences Ltd (Cambridgeshire, UK and Boston, USA) has today announced the global launch of their new “gene-to-protein” family of products. The suite of advanced tools has been designed to provide a choice of differing levels of automation for molecular biology protocols, to take the user from gene to protein and meet varying throughput needs.

Development of the new products began following the success of the company’s expressionfactory™, which was launched in 2003 and has since been purchased by major pharmaceutical companies in the USA and the UK. The expressionfactory is the first system to fully automate protein expression. Beginning with DNA species such as PCR products, ORFs or cDNA libraries, the system will plan, automate and track the entire process of sub-cloning, expression and purification of hundreds of proteins in parallel. The expressionfactory automatically performs molecular biology processes in a seamless workflow, providing the highest level of throughput and maximising efficiency and productivity.

The new products include a revolutionary information management system called OrchestratorIMS™, which was developed due to the interest in the software powering the expressionfactory. “We quickly realised that we needed to provide our customers with the same software system as a stand-alone product.” Explained Dr Grant Cameron, Commercial Director NextGen Sciences. “It is the first information management system to form a direct link between experiments planned virtually and those performed manually in the laboratory, enabling the user to plan, coordinate, execute, monitor and track, successful cloning and expression strategies. The system brings together and orchestrates application software, reagents, robotics hardware and sample tracking to enable users to go from gene to protein with minimal effort and maximum effect, which is why we chose the product name OrchestratorIMS.”

OrchestratorIMS is fully compatible with cloning techniques such as Gateway®, TOPO® and traditional methods. The software has been designed to enable the user to plan their experiments at a PC, and then carry out the research using either manual techniques or laboratory robotics. The system has a rules-based understanding of molecular biology, and can therefore identify planned cloning strategies that are unlikely to be successful. The system generates SOPs detailing the laboratory work required, and will monitor and track the whereabouts of all biomaterials, samples and reagents.

NextGen Sciences has also developed the expressionworkstation™, an automated molecular biology technology platform that integrates the OrchestratorIMS software. In terms of automation and throughput, the expressionworkstation sits between the expressionfactory and OrchestratorIMS in the gene to protein product family. The platform integrates a selection of the instrumentation from the expressionfactory, including liquid and plate handlers, a thermo cycler, chilled well plate positions, a centrifuge, and a vacuum station. The expressionworkstation enables the user to send programs of work directly from their PC to the robotics on the workstation to run modular molecular biology processes.

Over the coming months NextGen Sciences will be launching further new products for protein expression and 2-dimensional electrophoresis.

About NextGen Sciences
NextGen Sciences Ltd is a leading provider of integrated solutions for molecular biology and protein research. The company’s advanced technologies fully automate established, complex research techniques, improving results and accelerating discovery.

With a team of skilled individuals comprising expert discovery scientists, software and design engineers, NextGen Sciences is uniquely positioned to rapidly progress technology solutions from design concept to market. The company has a strong track record of launching first to market products and has achieved an international reputation for successfully commercialising technology.

© NextGen Sciences Ltd 2004, All rights reserved
expressionfactory IMS is powered by LabVantage Sapphire™
Gateway® and TOPO® are registered trademarks of Invitrogen Corporation