• Automated protocol for one-step RT-PCR on tissue cultured cells, eliminating need for a separate RNA isolation step
  
• Cells are washed, lysed, DNase treated and prepared for one-step RT-PCR using the MultiPROBE Liquid handling system
  
• Sensitive and reproducible measurement of gene expression in cultured cells
  
• Compatible with real-time RT-PCR

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• 8-probe Varispan Pipetting

Figure 1. MultiPROBE II HT EX Running Cells-to-cDNA™II Protocol.

Gripper™ Integration Platform

• Gantry-based system with 5 axes of motion

• Complete reverse transcription kit including 1X PBS, Cell Lysis Buffer, DNase I, and both an Armored RNA® and endogenous controls
  
  
• Cell lysates are used directly in reverse transcription eliminating the RNA isolation step
  
  
• Easily adaptable to a one-step RT-PCR procedure

1. HeLa S3 cells are grown overnight in 0.2 ml DME media with 10% FBS with equal number of cells in each well.
   
   
2. After an overnight incubation, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) is added to final concentrations of 100 nM, 10 nM, 1 nM, 0.1 nM, and 0 nM in the growth media in replicates of eight. Incubate at 37°C for 24 hr.

Automated Protocol

Figure 2. Screen View Using WinPREP™ Software. Screen Left: outline of protocol using Cells-to-cDNA II. Screen Right: view of deck layout.

3. Place 96-well plate and lid on the MultiPROBE® II HT Liquid Handling System on the proper deck positions.
   
   
4. Remove the growth media and wash the cells with 1X PBS.
   
   
5. Add 0.1 ml cell lysis buffer to each well.
   
   
6. Move plate to 75°C heating tile and incubate for 10 min.
   
   
7. Move plate to shaker platform and add 2 µl Lysis Buffer  II to each well. Shake for 2 min.
   
   
8. Add 2 µl DNase I to each well and move plate to 37°C heating tile.  Incubate for 15 min while shaking.
   
   
9. Move plate to 75°C heating tile and incubate for 5 min to inactivate the DNase I.
   
   
10. Prepare a master mix for one-step RT-PCR.
    
    
11. Aliquot 20 µl of the master mix to a 96-well PCR plate.
    
    
12. Add 5 µl of lysate to each well. The plate is now ready for one-step RT-PCR.

PCR

13. Setup a PCR profile for an ABI 7700 as follows:

42°C for 15 minutes (reverse transcription)
94°C for 3 minutes (denaturation)
40 Cycles: 94°C for 20 seconds
60°C for 40 seconds

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Results and Analysis

Figure 3 shows a run with Cells-to-cDNA II using the automated protocol on 88 samples from a 96-well culture plate to detect GAPDH.

Figure 3. Real-time Quantitation of GAPDH Using the Automated Profile.

Mean = 17.28
Standard Deviation = 0.524
CV = 3.03%
N = 88
High = 18.88
Low = 15.90

A standard curve for both t-PA and 18S rRNA was used to determine relative amounts of both t-PA and 18S rRNA in each sample. Data shows a 29-fold stimulation of t-PA gene by a 24 hr induction of PMA at 100 nM (Figure 4A) while the level of 18S rRNA stayed the same (Figure 4B). These differences are summarized in the chart in Figure 4C.

Figure 4A. Real-time Quantitation of t-PA Levels After 24 Hour PMA Induction.

Figure 4B. Real-time Quantitation of 18S rRNA Levels After 24 Hour PMA Induction.

Figure 4C. Relative Levels of 18S and t-PA with Different PMA Concentrations.

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Conclusion

Automating Ambion's Cells-to-cDNA II Kit using the MultiPROBE® II HT Liquid Handling System is an effective way of performing high throughput RT-PCR from cells grown in tissue culture.  The total time to prepare a 96-well plate for one-step RT-PCR is one hour.  This proves to be a sensitive and reproducible way to measure gene expression in cultured cells.

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