Stephanopoulos:Equipment

This page describes common-use equipment and laboratory areas in the Stephanopoulos Lab. If you are not a lab member and want to use this stuff, chances are that it's OK, but please check with a lab member first!

Main Lab (Building 56)

Stephanopoulos Main Lab (jpg,ppt)

Gel Staining Area

• SYBR Gold is very dangerous. Please do not carry SYBR Gold contamination outside the area marked with absorbent paper.

HPLC (northwest corner of lab)

• We have a service contract with Waters on the main HPLC unit, the photodiode array (PDA), and the RI detector. If you have issues with the tool, please contact Waters. The service contract also pays for a yearly preventative maintenance (PM) on the tool. A sticker on the left side of the tool states the date when the next PM is due.
  • Useful information to give when contacting Waters for service:
    • Service contract number: 40136623 (Expires 4/6/2009)
    • Associated P.O. number: 4500985597
  • Our service rep is Bob Brennick 1-800-252-4752 Ext. 6225
  • Our service sales rep is Linda Halloran 1-800-252-4752 Ext. 2108
• Helpful tips for better HPLC analyses:
  • The majority of our columns use long-chain alkylated silica (C18 or "reverse phase" columns). It is always best to store these columns in 100% organics, such as 100% acetonitrile (AcCN).

GC/MS

• Guidelines for GC/MS use can be found here.

Balances

• Please keep the balances clean after weighing out chemicals. It is hazardous for other people to clean up unknown chemicals from the weighing area

Chemicals Storage Area

• When you receive a new container of chemicals, please write the date of receipt on the container label.
• When you open a new container of chemicals for the first time, please write the date of opening on the container label.

Fume Hoods

• Keep the fume hoods as clutter-free as possible by removing personal items and materials as soon as you are finished using them.
• Please do not use fume hoods to evaporate off hazardous chemicals from pipette tips, tubes, etc. Tips and tubes with trace amounts of hazardous chemicals should be placed in an appropriate, capped container and the name of the chemical should be added to the container's hazardous waste tag. Currently, we have one container for organic waste in the eastern fume hood. More containers for incompatible chemical types can be obtained from the VWR stockroom if necessary.

Sterile Hoods

• Sterile hoods are meant to be sterile. Please keep them clean.
• When biological sharps bins are full, please close the lid on the bins and zip tie them closed. Do not overfill them.

YSI 2700 Select Biochemistry Analyzer

• This device uses immobilized enzyme membrane electrodes to specifically measure glucose and lactic acid. Electrodes for other analytes, such as (glutamine, glutamate, others) are available. Analysis is rapid and convenient, but is limited to aqueous samples. A simple procedure for sample analysis can be found here.

GenePix 4000B microarray scanner

• This device scans images of hybridized microarrays.
• A simple protocol for logging into the associated computer (gregstep16, username: gregstep16, password: gregstep16) and for using the array scanning software can be found here.
• The manufacturer (Axon Instruments) has a more in-depth User's Guide; that information is here.

Brother MFC-8840D

• This printer is near the common-use gs23 computer. Instructions for installation are here.

Packard Fusion Plate Reader

• Filter wheels:
  • Excitation (wavelength/bandwidth):
    • 1. 540/10
    • 2. 405/10
    • 3. 485/20
    • 4. 420/10 (Part #: 3400249 Absorbance)
    • 5. 600/10 (Part #: 3400267 Absorbance)
    • 6. 490/10
    • 7. 450/10 (Part #: 3400252 Absorbance)
    • 8. 535/25
  • Emission (wavelength/bandwidth):
    • 1. Empty
    • 2. 535/25
    • 3. Diffuser
    • 4. Empty
    • 5. 590/20
    • 6. 460/25 (Part #: 3400226)

Autoclave Room (Building 56)

• The autoclave on the 4th floor is managed by the chemical engineering department. Guests are welcome to use it, but please check with someone in a 4th-floor chemical engineering lab before using it.
• If autoclaving biowaste, sign up using the dedicated biowaste autolave log. Be sure to list the tag numbers for all bags of waste you are autoclaving.
• If autoclaving non-biowaste, sign up using the general sign up list.
• Do not leave your autoclave tray full of stinky, congealed agar after you take out your autoclaved waste. Take responsibility for your own messes!
• Before you use the autoclave, please check the strainer at the bottom of the autoclave to ensure that it is clean. If there is anything plugged in it, just empty it out. There is a temperature sensor below the strainer which cannot accurately measure the temperature if the strainer is plugged. If you have any questions as to where this strainer is located, there’s a sign on the autoclave with a diagram of the location.

Dishwashing Schedule

• Ben Wang currently schedules the dishwashing rotation.

You can find the current dishwashing list here: File:DishwashingDuties.pdf

Tissue Culture Lab (Building 56)

We have two microscopes:

• Zeiss Axioskop 20 upright microscope
  • Sales consultant: Christine Burnitz (617-877-9343) cburnitz@zeiss.com
• Inverted microscope

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