Name: optimizing the use of a liquid handling robot to conduct a high throughput forward chemical genetics screen of arabidopsis thaliana
Uploaded: 2018-04-30T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana at JoVE.com

We thank Jozsef Stork, Mitchel Richmond, Jarrad Gollihue, and Andrea Sanchez for constructive and critical discussion. Dr. Sharyn Perry for the phenotypic photographs. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 1355438.

1. Creating a Dilution Library
<ol>
	<li>Label 625 Dilution Library plates by hand, ensuring that they match to their corresponding plate from the chemical library. Additionally, connect in flow and out flow hoses to the Multichannel Tip Wash Automated Labware Positioner (ALP) by passing them through the Console Drive to the 5 Gallon Reservoir (see Table of Materials).</li>
	<li>Access the computer and turn on the wash pump through the connection of the Device Controller to the Multichannel Tip Wash AL...

<ol>
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This protocol is designed to aid researchers in accomplishing a forward chemical genetics screen on Arabidopsis. We provide representative results from a screen of 50,000 compounds (Figure 2 and Figure 3), one of the largest forward chemical genetics screens performed on Arabidopsis to date9,13,23. The use of a liquid handling robot enabled more efficient dilution libra...

In the past 20 years researchers in the field of plant biology have made great strides using chemical genetics approaches, both forward and reverse, improving our understanding of cell wall biosynthesis, the cytoskeleton, hormone biosynthesis and signaling, gravitropism, pathogenesis, purine biosynthesis, and endomembrane trafficking1,2,3,4,5. Employing forward chemical genetics techniques enables the identification of phenotypes of interest and allows researchers to understand the genotypic underpinnings of particular processes. Conversely, reverse chemical genetics seeks out chemicals that interact with a pre-determined protein target6. Arabidopsis has been at the forefront of these discoveries in plant biology because its genome is small, mapped, and annotated. It has a short generation time, and there are multiple mutant/reporter lines available to facilitate the identification of aberrant subcellular machinery7.
There are two major bottlenecks that slow the progress of forward chemical genetic screens, the initial screening process and determining the target of the compound of interest8. A major aid in increasing the speed of small molecule selection is the use of automation and automated equipment9. Liquid handling robots are an excellent tool for handling large libraries of small molecules and have been instrumental in driving progress in the biological sciences10. The protocol presented here is designed to alleviate the bottleneck associated with the screening process, enabling the identification of bioactive small molecules at a rapid rate. This technique decreases the burden of labor and time on behalf of the operator while also decreasing the economic cost to the principle investigator.
Thus far, most chemical libraries analyzed have held between 10,000 and 20,000 compounds, some with as many as 150,000 and some with as few as 709,11,12,13,14,15,16. The protocol introduced herein was implemented on a small molecule library of 50,000 compounds (see Table of Materials), one of the larger forward chemical genetics screens conducted on Arabidopsis to date. This protocol fits with the current trend towards increased efficiency and speed regarding forward chemical genetics, especially as it pertains to herbicide discovery, insecticide discovery, fungicide discover, drug discovery, and cancer biology17,18,19,20,21. Though implemented here with Arabidopsis, this protocol, could easily be adapted to cell cultures, spores, and potentially even insects in liquid medium within 96-, 384-, or 1536-well plates. Due to its small size, Arabidopsis is amenable to screening in 96 well plates. However, distributing seeds evenly among wells is a challenge. Hand seeding is accurate but labor intensive, and though there are devices designed to dispense seeds into 96-well plates, they are expensive to purchase. Here, we show how this step can be circumvented with just a small loss in accuracy.
The overall goal of this method was to make screening a large chemical library against Arabidopsis more manageable, without compromising accuracy, via the use of a liquid handling robot. The use of this method improves the efficiency of the researcher by decreasing the time taken to complete initial dilution series management and subsequent phenotypic screens, allowing quick visualization of samples under a dissecting microscope, and rapid identification of novel bioactive small molecules. Figure 1 depicts this protocol&#39;s key outcomes in 4 steps.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/57393/57393fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Overall workflow of the forward chemical genetics screen. An overview of the protocol to be described with some detail for each of the 4 key steps. 1: Receiving the Chemical Library, 2: Making the Dilution Library, 3: Making the Screening Plates, and 4: Incubating and visualizing the Screening Plates. <a href="/files/ftp_upload/57393/57393fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Keyboard</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for protocol design and operating the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for protocol design and operating the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Computer Screen</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for protocol design and operating the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Computer</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used for protocol design and operating the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DIVERSet Diverse Screening Library</td>
			<td>ChemBridge</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Chemical library</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek Software</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Runs and designs the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Device Controller</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>719366</td>
			<td>Operates the water pump/tip washing station</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stacker Carousel Pendent</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148240</td>
			<td>Manual operation of Biomek Stacker Carousel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek Stacker Carousel</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148520</td>
			<td>Rotary unit that houses all FX Stacker 10&#39;s</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FX Stacker 10</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148522</td>
			<td>Elevator unit that houses components for screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FX Stacker 10</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148522</td>
			<td>Elevator unit that houses components for screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FX Stacker 10</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148522</td>
			<td>Elevator unit that houses components for screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FX Stacker 10</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>148522</td>
			<td>Elevator unit that houses components for screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek FX</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>https://www.beckman.com/liquid-handlers</td>
			<td>Robot that performs the desired operations</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Accuframe</td>
			<td>Artisan Technology Group</td>
			<td>76853-4</td>
			<td>Frames arm to place components corretly</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Framing Fixture</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>719415</td>
			<td>Centers arm in the Accuframe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multichannel Tip Wash ALP</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>719662</td>
			<td>Washes the tips after the ethanol bath</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tip Loader ALP</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>719356</td>
			<td>Pneumatically loads tips onto the arm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air Compressor</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Provides air for pneumatic tip loading</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MasterFlex Console Drive</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>77200-65</td>
			<td>Pump used to circulate water through the Multichannel Tip Washer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air Hose</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Provides air from air compressor to Tip Loader</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water Hose</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Provides water from 5 Gallon Reserviour to Tip Washer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Static ALP&#39;s</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>Comes with Biomek FX</td>
			<td>Supports equipment for the Screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 Gallon Reserviour</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Recirculates the dirty water from cleaning the tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Grippers</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>Comes with Biomek FX</td>
			<td>Grabs and moves the equipment to the correct places</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-Channel 200 &#181;L Head</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>Comes with Biomek FX</td>
			<td>Holds the 96 tips used within the screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AP96 P200 Pipette Tips</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>717251</td>
			<td>Used to make the screening library</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96 Well Flat Bottom Plate</td>
			<td>Costar</td>
			<td>9018</td>
			<td>Aids in visulization of screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96 Well V-Bottom Plate</td>
			<td>Costar</td>
			<td>3897</td>
			<td>Aids in storing of dilution library</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AlumaSeal 96 Sealing Film</td>
			<td>MedSci</td>
			<td>F-96-100</td>
			<td>Seals for storage both the chemicle library and dilution library</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic ziplock sandwich bags</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Used to ensure a humid environment for screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AP96 P20 Pipette Tips</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>717254</td>
			<td>Used in the dilution library creation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Growth Chamber</td>
			<td>Percival</td>
			<td>AR36L3</td>
			<td>Germinates seeds for phenotypic visulization</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spatula</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Holds seeds to add into wells where liquid seeding failed seed adequatly</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Toothpick</td>
			<td>Local Provider</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Pushes seeds from spatula to wells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Murashige and Skoog Basal Salt Mixture</td>
			<td>PhytoTechnology Laboratories</td>
			<td>M524</td>
			<td>Add to MS media mixture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MES Free Acid Monohydrate</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>ICN19483580</td>
			<td>Added to MS media to decrease pH</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Agar Powder</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>9002-18-0</td>
			<td>Increases thickness of media to support seed suspension</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5M KOH</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>484016</td>
			<td>Increases pH to adequate levels</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1L Media Storage Bottle</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>1395-1L</td>
			<td>Holds enough media for a screen</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polypropylene Centrifuge Tubes</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>431470</td>
			<td>Sterilizes seeds prior to vernilization</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pH Probe</td>
			<td>Davis Instruments</td>
			<td>YX-58825-26</td>
			<td>Used for making media</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ALPs (Automated Labware Positioners) Users Manual</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>PN 987836</td>
			<td>Aids in setting up the accompaning equipment for the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek 2000 Stacker Carousel Users Guide</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>609862-AA</td>
			<td>Aids in setting up the Stacker Carousel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek FX and FXP Laboratory Automation Workstations Users Manual</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>PN 987834</td>
			<td>Used to frame the Multichannel Pod</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek FXP Laboratory Automation Workstation Customer Startup Guide</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>PN B32335AB</td>
			<td>Used to aid in setting up the Biomek FX</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biomek Software User&#39;s Manual</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>PN 987835</td>
			<td>Used to set up and understand the Software</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

optimizing the use of a liquid handling robot to conduct a high throughput forward chemical genetics screen of arabidopsis thaliana

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or lethality. However, the probability of a synthetic small molecule being bioactive is low; therefore, thousands of molecules must be tested in order to find those of interest. Liquid handling robotics systems are designed to handle large numbers of samples, increasing the speed with which a chemical library can be screened in addition to minimizing/standardizing error. To achieve a high-throughput forward chemical genetics screen of a library of 50,000 small molecules on Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), protocols using a bench-top multichannel liquid handling robot were developed that require minimal technician involvement. With these protocols, 3,271 small molecules were discovered that caused visible phenotypic alterations. 1,563 compounds induced short roots, 1,148 compounds altered coloration, 383 compounds caused root hair and other, non-categorized, alterations, and 177 compounds inhibited germination.

The ability to accurately and efficiently characterize phenotypes based on the addition of small molecules at screening concentrations under a dissecting microscope is the end goal of this method of forward chemical genetics on Arabidopsis. The phenotypes observed when all 50,000 compounds had been screened was diverse and could be broken into several distinct classes (Figure 2). Figure 3A-F depicts exam...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana at JoVE.com

Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana

A high throughput screen of synthetic small molecules was conducted on the model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana. This protocol, developed for a liquid handling robot, increases the speed of forward chemical genetics screens, accelerating the discovery of novel small molecules affecting plant physiology.

Optimizing the Use of a Liquid Handling Robot to Conduct a High Throughput Forward Chemical Genetics Screen of Arabidopsis thaliana

Chemical genetics is increasingly being employed to decode traits in plants that may be recalcitrant to traditional genetics due to gene redundancy or ...

Research

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