The Keck Biotechnology Laboratory

This laboratory, which was founded in 1980, serves as a critical core, providing a wide range of state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic biotechnologies to hundreds of investigators throughout the Yale campus. With 45 full-time staff members, more than 25,000nsf of space, and 75 major instrument systems purchased at a cost of $11 million dollars, the Keck Laboratory is one of the largest academic biotechnology resource laboratories of its kind in the world. It offers a wide range of genomic and proteomic syntheses and analyses that include DNA microarray and Affymetrix gene chip technology, oligo and peptide synthesis, DNA and protein sequencing, biophysical analysis of proteins and other biopolymers (including size exclusion HPLC/laser light scattering and stopped flow fluorescence/absorbance), mass spectrometry (MS), and biostatistical analyses of data. The rapid growth of the DNA Microarray Resource has been aided by support received from of a NIDDK Microarray Biotechnology Center Grant, which is one of 16 centers nationally. The Keck Laboratory also provides a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping service with a maximum throughput of >20,000,000 SNP genotypes/day, based on MS analysis of the products of single base extension reactions. In addition, the Keck lab offers a variety of protein profiling technologies and is closely associated with the Yale/NHLBI Proteomics Center, one of 10 national centers.

The Keck Resource Laboratory also offers the following services: 1) amino acid analysis/sequencing; 2) large scale peptide synthesis; 3) HPLC SEC/laser light scattering determination of native protein molecular weights; 4) mass spectroscopy; 5) oligonucleotide syntheses; 6) protein sequencing; 7) small scale peptide synthesis. Since its founding, the Keck facility has been self-supporting with respect to recovering its operating expenses from user fees.