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Highlighted this week — a handy device for replica plating microbial colonies on solid growth media, a kit for the direct colorimetric detection of hepatitis B DNA and a nonradioactive reverse transcriptase assay for the detection of HIV-1.
Products from the molecular biology marketplace include nuclear extracts for gene regulation studies, a kit for purifying DNA from tissue and mouse tails, and one for the in vitro packaging of DNA from bacteriophage lambda.
Digital imaging spectrophotometers can simultaneously measure the spectra of hundreds of features in a two-dimensional scene. While a variety of applications can be anticipated, a colorimetric analysis of mutants expressing pigmented proteins has already led to the development of efficient algorithms for optimizing combinatorial mutagenesis.
Featured this week—a red blood cell agglutination reagent, an agar substitute, antibodies to markers of metastasis and a scanning probe microscope for imaging cells and tissues in situ with nanometre resolution.
New product developments to watch for include a whole chromosome painting system, a second-generation robotics system, a pocket-sized torch for use in the darkroom and two new gel documentation systems.
Quantitative analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified HIV-1 DNA or cDNA fragments is attained using an automated system that combines capillary-gel electrophoresis (CGE) for high-efficiency separation and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) for high-sensitivity detection. This system enables the detection of PCR-amplified multiple target DNA or cDNA in the same tube by a single injection with high precision.
For the immunologist — an in vitro system for studying leukocyte transendothelial migration, assays for free radical markers, antibodies to nitric oxide synthases and an assortment of microplates.
Microwell plates with covalently bound nickel chelate, a robotic crystallization system for experiments using hanging drop and sitting drop methods, and 10-mm probes for biomolecular applications are highlighted this week.
Computer buffs may be interested in this week's selection which includes software developed specifically for the chemist, a program for densitometry and gel analysis and a lab manual on CD-ROM.
The use of oligonucleotides for gene ampliation, as diagnostic probes or antisense-based drugs can be optimized by minimizing the possibility of nonspecific hybridization.
This week's line-up includes a blood cell agglutination reagent, a kit for isolating immunoglobulin from egg yolk, a capillary electrophoresis system and a gas chromatography system that provides qualitative structural information.
Cosmid, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), P1 and complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries are distributed on high-density filters to the scientific community and experimental results are stored in a common object-based database accessible through the Internet.
Sequence similarity search software and hardware, a new program for chemists working with peptides, peptidomimetics and proteins, and instrumentation for synthesis and sequencing — new product news for molecular biologists.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences were amplified from whole blood prepared in guanidine thiocyanate (GuSCN) after capture of the mRNA with an affinity membrane.
