A high-throughput single copy genetic amplification (SCGA) process is developed that utilizes a microfabricated droplet generator (microDG) to rapidly encapsulate individual DNA molecules or cells together with primer functionalized microbeads in uniform PCR mix droplets. The nanoliter volume droplets uniquely enable quantitative high-yield amplification of DNA targets suitable for long-range sequencing and genetic analysis. A hybrid glass-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microdevice assembly is used to integrate a micropump into the microDG that provides uniform droplet size, controlled generation frequency, and effective bead incorporation. After bulk PCR amplification, the droplets are lysed and the beads are recovered and rapidly analyzed via flow cytometry. DNA targets ranging in size from 380 to 1139 bp at single molecule concentrations are quantitatively amplified using SCGA. Long-range sequencing results from beads each carrying approximately 100 amol of a 624 bp product demonstrate that these amplicons are competent for achieving attomole-scale Sanger sequencing from a single bead and for advancing pyrosequencing read-lengths. Successful single cell analysis of the glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene in human lymphocyte cells and of the gyr B gene in bacterial Escherichia coli K12 cells establishes that SCGA will also be valuable for performing high-throughput genetic analysis on single cells.

Hydrogels produced from self-assembling peptides and peptide derivatives are being investigated as synthetic extracellular matrices for defined cell culture substrates and scaffolds for regenerative medicine. In many cases, however, they are less stiff than the tissues and extracellular matrices they are intended to mimic, and they are prone to cohesive failure. We employed native chemical ligation to produce peptide bonds between the termini of fibrillized beta-sheet peptides to increase gel stiffness in a chemically specific manner while maintaining the morphology of the self-assembled fibrils. Polymerization, fibril structure, and mechanical properties were measured by SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry, TEM, circular dichroism, and oscillating rheometry; and cellular responses to matrix stiffening were investigated in cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Ligation led to a fivefold increase in storage modulus and a significant enhancement of HUVEC proliferation and expression of CD31 on the surface of the gels. The approach was also orthogonal to the inclusion of unprotected RGD-functionalized self-assembling peptides, which further increased proliferation. This strategy broadens the utility of self-assembled peptide materials for applications that require enhancement or modulation of matrix mechanical properties by providing a chemoselective means for doing so without significantly disrupting the gels' fibrillar structure.

No abstract

A new affinity-capture-based inline purification, concentration, and injection method is developed for microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) and used to perform efficient attomole-scale Sanger DNA sequencing separations. The microdevice comprises three axial domains for nanoliter-scale sequencing sample containment, sample plug formation, and high-resolution capillary gel electrophoresis. Purified and concentrated inline sample plugs are formed by electrophoretically driving Sanger sequencing extension fragments into an affinity-capture polymer network positioned within a CE separation channel. Extension fragments selectively hybridize and concentrate at the polymer interface while residual primer, nucleotides, and salts electrophorese out of the system. The plug is thermally released and injected into the CE channel by direct application of the separation voltage. To evaluate this system, 30 nL of sequencing sample prepared from 100 amol (60 million molecules) of human mitochondrial hypervariable region II amplicon was introduced into the microchip, purified, concentrated, and injected, generating a read length of 365 bases with 99% accuracy. This efficient inline injection system obviates the need for the excess sample that is required by cross-injection techniques, thereby enabling Sanger sequencing and other high-performance genetic analysis using DNA quantities approaching theoretical detection limits.

Indirect evidence suggests that endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) receptor signaling can promote motor neuron (MN) survival in the adult. If so, proper targeting of this signaling may selectively counteract the effects of adult MN diseases. However, direct evidence for CNTF receptor involvement in adult MN survival is lacking, presumably because the unconditional blockade of the mouse CNTF receptor in vivo [through genetic disruption of the essential CNTF receptor a (CNTFRa) gene] leads to uniform perinatal death of the mice. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a method to selectively disrupt CNTF receptor function in a targeted subset of adult MNs that are not required for survival. A 'floxed CNTFRa' mouse line was generated and characterized. In addition, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector that drives Cre recombinase (Cre) expression was constructed and shown, with reporter mouse lines, to selectively excise floxed genes in facial MNs following its stereotaxic injection into the facial motor nucleus. Adult floxed CNTFRa mice were then injected with the AAV-Cre vector to excise the CNTFRa gene in the targeted MNs. The resulting data indicate that adult CNTF receptor signaling, likely by the MNs themselves, can play an essential role in MN survival. The data further indicate that this role is independent of any developmental contributions CNTF receptor signaling makes to MN survival or function.