The Lab of Biochemistry performs an array of on molecular approaches to support research projects aimed to improve crop yield and reduce inputs. Its different work-areas allow:
- Isolation and quantification of DNA and RNA from a variety of tissues, fluids, and cells in culture using manual and automated high-throughput protocols.
- PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis of PCR products.
- Gene expression analysis using quantitative Real-Time PCR, and nanofluidic Real-Time PCR (OpenArray technology).
- High resolution melting analysis (HRM) analysis for the detection, on 384-well plate, of mutations, polymorphisms, and epigenetic differences in DNA samples.
- Allelic discrimination assays for detection of SNPs using TaqMan, KASP, and rhPCR assays.
- Use of nanofluidic Real-Time PCR (Quant Studio 12K coupled with OpenArray technology) for analysis of panels of SNPs.
- Digital PCR (Quant Studio 3D, Thermo Fisher Scientific) for absolute quantification and rare allele detection.
- Sanger sequencing for obtaining long contiguous DNA sequence reads (>500 nucleotides) and validation of NGS results.
- Pyrosequencing for automated sequencing of short contiguous DNA sequence reads (<150 nucleotides) and protocols for methylation, mutation, and SNP allelic quantification (PyroMark Q48, Qiagen).
- NGS. Library preparation for AmpliSeq, mRNAseq, 16S, and ITS profiling.
- Sequencing using ION S5 (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
- Bioinformatic analysis of molecular data from microarrays experiments and NGS data.