An integrated device for monitoring time-dependent in vitro expression from single genes in picolitre droplets.

Fabienne Courtois, Luis F Olguin, Graeme Whyte, Daniel Bratton, Wilhelm T S Huck, Chris Abell, Florian Hollfelder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

165 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microdroplets have great potential for high-throughput biochemical screening. We report the design of an integrated microfluidic device for droplet formation, incubation and screening. Picolitre water-in-oil droplets can be stored in a reservoir that contains approximately 10(6) droplets. In this reservoir droplets are stable for at least 6 h, which gives an extended timescale for biochemical experiments. We demonstrate the utility of the system by following the in vitro expression of green fluorescent protein. The high efficiency allows protein expression from a single molecule of DNA template, creating "monoclonal droplets" in which genotype and phenotype are combined in one emulsion compartment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)439-446
Number of pages8
JournalChemBioChem
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2008

Keywords

  • equipment design
  • gene expression
  • green fluorescent proteins
  • green fluorescent proteins genetics
  • green fluorescent proteins metabolism
  • microfluidics
  • microfluidics instrumentation

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