Kleinman Cancer Cell Sorting Facility
Flow Cytometry is the measurement of single cells as they flow one by one past laser beams, with the resulting light scatter and fluorescence emission detected and analyzed. Multiple biophysical properties of each cell can be measured at rates of thousands of cells per second. Cells are identified by their staining with fluorescent dyes that bind directly to specific constituents like DNA, RNA, proteins or ions or with dyes conjugated to molecules like antibodies, lectins, or hormones that bind to different cellular structures. Cells may also be identified following an infection or transfection by marker fluorescent proteins. Flow Cytometry can detect and analyze multiple fluorescent staining simultaneously in each cell and can report and physically separate them by these qualities.
The Flow Cytometry unit contains four types of flow cytometers:
- Cell analyzers - The instruments available are: Cytek™ Aurora cell analyzer with 5 lasers, FACS Symphony A5 SE with 5 lasers, Novocyte Opteon with 5 lasers. All have the option of spectral analysis, capturing the full emission spectrum of every fluorescent molecule and enabling characterization of cells with large panels of antibodies.
- Cell Sorters - can analyze and sort objects ranging in size from 0.5 to ~30 µm from selected populations with precision and deposit them into tubes or plates. This can be done under sterile conditions. The instruments available are: 2 FACSAriaIII with 5 lasers, FACSymphony S6 with 5 lasers, FACSAriaIII with 4 lasers, FACSAria FUSION with 4 lasers, and Thermo Fisher Bigfoot spectral cell sorter with 5 lasers.
- Imaging-enabled Cell Sorters - combine high-parameter spectral flow cytometry with real-time fluorescence imaging, enabling high-throughput cell sorting based on both spectral signatures and spatial/morphological features. The instruments available are 2 FACS Discover S8.
- Large Particle Sorter - The BioSorter is capable of analyzing and sorting objects ranging in size from 10 to 1,500 µm, aimed at sorting large and/or fragile cells. The instrument has 4 lasers and can trace fluorescence intensity changes along the entire length of the object.
The service provided incorporates assistance during planning, execution, and analysis of experiments. The emphasis is on teaching multiple users to operate the instruments independently.
Lab courses are conducted every year for students of the Institute.
Types of paid services available
Cell analysis - user-operated.
Cell sorting - user-operated.
Help per hour - work with close assistance of a staff member.
Projects - continuous collaborations with a staff member.
This Unit operates within the Moross Integrated cancer center .
Current location is in Dwek building.
