Our laboratories are housed in the School of Biological Science, University of Wales, Bangor, UK. The Crustacean Biology group has two main dry laboratories, one of which is dedicated to molecular biology, that provide us with all the necessary equipment to conduct modern, cutting edge research.

Molecular lab
We utilise contemporary molecular techniques including quantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridisation and RNA interference in addition to immunochemical and proteomics based tools. Our molecular laboratory is equipped with all the necessary kit for RNA extraction and synthesis, generation of oligonucleotide probes for in situ, PCR and we have on-site access to three ‘real-time’ PCR machines, including a new Applied Biosystems 7900, 384-well ‘Taqman’ machine. Our inventory includes also Beckman CEQ8000 and Applied Biosystems 3130X sequencers, Nanodrop spectrophotometer, Agilent Bioanylser and leading-edge gel imaging equipment, robotic liquid handling stations and an Affymetrix microarray chip scanner.

Preparation and peptides laboratory
Much of our work necessitates extremely fine microdissection to isolate and prepare nervous tissue for histological work, molecular analysis, and peptide purification. We use high-quality Wild dissecting microscopes with cold-light sources for microdissection and Leitz Dialux 20 compound microscopes for conventional light microscopy.

We have two High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) systems, a new, fully automated Dionex Summit machine with diode array, fluorescence, electrochemical and radiochemical detectors. In addition we perform amino acid analysis and peptide quantification on our ultra-reliable Pye Unicam HPLC.

We are fully registered to use radioisotopes and have specially equipped grade A and grade B laboratories where we can undertake all aspects of radioisotope work. Our Counter Room contains Wallac 1470 gamma, and Wallac 1414 beta counters, and a Victor-2 1420 multilabel counter. These facilities are particularly useful to our group in the development and application of exquisitely sensitive and specific radio- and enzyme immunoassays that we use to measure hormone titres in our experimental animals. Other facilities readily accessible for our use include flow cytometry, 2D gel electrophoresis and robotic spot-picker.

Mass Spectrometry
Here in the School of Biological Sciences we have an excellent mass spectrometery facility with skilled technical support. In the Crustacean Group we routinely use a Brüker Reflex 4 MALDI-TOF MS for peptide analysis but have access also to a Brüker Apex 4 FT-ICR-MS, coupled to a nanobore HPLC delivery system.

Confocal Microscopy
In order to localise peptides and RNA in our tissue preparations we use highly specific and sensitive fluorescently labelled immunochemical and molecular probes. We visualise these on a Zeiss LSM 510 laser confocal microscope with multiphoton capability. This facility enables us to generate pseudo 3-dimensional digital images of whole tissue preparations and to use multiple fluor labels at the same time for antigen co-localisation studies.

Aquarium facilities
The school has a state-of-the-art re-circulating seawater aquarium located at ground-floor level of the building. Here we keep a stock of experimental animals in holding tanks and have purpose built constant environment rooms. Our location next to the Menai Strait means that a huge variety of animals can be collected and held at our facility very easily. This enables us to carry out a range of exciting projects with healthy, physiologically uncompromised animals.