Center for the Chemistry of Cellular Signaling
Dedicated to understanding the intricacies of cellular signaling, the Center for the Chemistry of Cellular Signaling was built on Caltech's successes at the interface of chemistry and biology. It is focused on determining how complex systems of molecules interact to create the pathways that regulate the lives of cells and allow them to respond to their environments. Rather than just studying a complex biomolecule in isolation, an understanding of how it is part of a larger path of molecules is the purpose of its establishment. The Center was made possible by a generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
If use of the Center instrumentation has contributed significantly to your research, we request that you cite the Center in the acknowledgments section of your publication. For example: "This work was supported by…, and by the Center for the Chemistry of Cellular Signaling at California Institute of Technology."
Instrumentation:Crellin Room 260 (Bacterial)
Crellin Room 262 (Mammalian)
Instrument Signup:
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Seminars:Thursday afternoons
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Information on Instrumentation
For each of the instruments, please contact the indicated GLA for training or troubleshooting.
The Protein Expression Center (PEC) in the Beckman Institute (room 286) has a new cell disruptor that is free to Signaling Center users. The cell disruptor is a Constant Systems TS Series Benchtop model. Compared to a microfluidizer, this instrument can reach higher pressures for yeast lysis (and easily be used at lower pressures for bacteria). The instrument is equipped with a circulating chiller for cooling to desired temperature, i.e. 4 degrees Celsius. Contact Andrea Kuipers, BI 202, extention x3568, to set up training (akuipers@caltech.edu). You will be asked to set up an online account with PEC and then submit an order online for training or cell disruptor use. On the site, select the "Protein Downstream Processing" and the "Cell lysis" options. Use of this cell disruptor will be free for Signaling Center users with user fees charged to group-specific Signaling Center PTAs.
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Microplate reader with 5 read modes (including absorbance, fluorescence intensity, fluorescence polarization, luminescence, and time-resolved fluorescence) with additional robot functionality (8-channel pipettor) to add liquid reagents. Contact: Stephen Grant (Dougherty), x6009, sgrant@caltech.edu |
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Quantitative scanning of western blots at 700 and 800 nm. Contact: John Thompson (Hsieh-Wilson), x8119, jthompso@caltech.edu |
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CFX 96 Real-Time PCR Detection System Built upon the Bio-Rad C1000 96 well Thermal Cycler, utilizes filtered LEDs for excitation and is capable of monitoring 450-750 nM excitation/emission wavelength range. This system allows for simultaneous detection of up to 5 different fluorophores per reaction and is sensitive enough to detect one copy of target sequence in human genomic DNA. Contact: Rebekah Silva (Barton), x3201, rsilva@caltech.edu |
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Micro-volume full spectrum UV-Visible spectrophotometer for sample volumes as low as 0.5 µL. Contact: Matt Endo (Ondrus), x6074, mendo@caltech.edu |
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Fully automated sample preparation of Qiagen spin-column kits (up to 12 samples per run) for purification of DNA, RNA or proteins. Contact: Rebekah Silva (Barton), x3201, rsilva@caltech.edu |
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Floor-mounted shaker accepts up to 6-L flasks for culture. Contact: Un Seng Chio (Shan), x4071, uchio@caltech.edu |
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Floor-mounted temperature-controlled shaker accepts up to 6-L flasks for culture. Can go down to 5°C. Contact: Un Seng Chio (Shan), x4071, uchio@caltech.edu |
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Centrifuge up to 6 1-Liter cultures. Contact: Un Seng Chio (Shan), x4071, uchio@caltech.edu |
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Portable spectrophotometer for OD600 readings. |
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Intended for use as a back-up of individual lab freezers. Contact: Matt Endo (Ondrus), x6074, mendo@caltech.edu |
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High-resolution biomolecular imager capable of detecting storage phosphor, chemiluminescence, and multiplex fluorescence with 473 nm, 532 nm, and 625 nm excitation. Analysis done with ImageQuant software. Contact: Alexis Kurmis (Dervan), x6032, akurmis@caltech.edu |
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Efficient electroporation of mammalian cells for transfection. Contact: John Thompson (Hsieh-Wilson), x8119, jthompso@caltech.edu |
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High efficiency electroporation transfection device for primary cells, stem cells, and difficult-to-transfect cells. It is capable of transfecting 10 or 100 µL volumes. Contact: Stephen Grant (Dougherty), x6009, sgrant@caltech.edu |
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Used for dissections and imaging (transmitted light) with the camera attached. Zoom from 0.8 to 8X, in a clean bench to provide a sterile dissection/preparation work space. Contact: Matt Endo (Ondrus), x6074, mendo@caltech.edu |
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Used for basic visualization of cultured cells at 10 and 20X, allowing for monitoring and counting cells. Contact: Matt Endo (Ondrus), x6074, mendo@caltech.edu |
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Provides sterile environment for sensitive dissections or microscope work. Contact: John Thompson (Hsieh-Wilson), x8119, jthompso@caltech.edu |
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Provides sterile environment for mammalian cell work. Contact: Kelsey Boyle (Barton), x3201, kboyle@caltech.edu |
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Mammalian Tissue Culture CO2 Incubator Provides a controlled CO2 and temperature environment for cells during dissection, transfection or passaging done at the Center. It is intended for temporary use, and not long term housing of cultured cells. Contact: Kelsey Boyle (Barton), x3201, kboyle@caltech.edu |
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Tabletop centrifuge that can accomodate 15 or 50 mL conical tubes. Contact: Alexis Kurmis (Dervan), x6032, akurmis@caltech.edu |
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Beckman LS 6000SC Scintillation Counter The scintillation counter is designed to provide highly accurate, automated counting of the level of radioactivity in radioactivity-tagged samples. Instrument used to count radioactive samples. Note: New users must complete Radioactivity Safety Training with Haick Issaian (haick.issian@caltech.edu), the Institute Radiation Safety Officer, before getting access to the scintillation counte.
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Mailing address
Caltech Center for the Chemistry of Cellular Signaling
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
MC 164-30
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
USA