Electron microscopy cell fraction preparation robot

We have developed a high-throughput device to expedite and standardize cell fraction sample preparation for electron microscopic examination. It provides a means for mass, parallel validation of sub-cellular sample purity and confirmation of protein localization in isolated organelles. Due to the inherent fragile nature of cell fraction specimens, the device was designed to handle all aspects of chemical and mechanical manipulation necessary to prepare organelles for electron microscopic examination. Its modular design permits sequential, automated filtration, chemical processing, delivery and embedding of 96 cell fraction samples in parallel. The automated system minimizes mechanical stress to the samples, controls delivery and removal of processing reagents and regulates temperature by integrating five sub-systems: (1) a core mechanism composed of four modular plates, (2) a 4-axis modon control system (X, Y, Z, /spl theta/), (3) an electromagnetic plate transfer arm, (4) a cooling platform, and (5) an automated fluids handling sub-system. As part of the supporting technology developing for proteomics, the automated device allows, for the first time, massive, parallel electron microscopy screening and subsequent statistical analysis of sub-cellular and protein targets necessary for high-throughput proteomics.