Pipettes for Stress Response Research in Cells

All organisms are exposed to stresses, both short- and long-term, over their lifetimes. As a consequence, cells’ genomes, epigenomes and proteomes may incur damage that must be repaired to maintain normal function. But as organisms age, their ability to respond both to ordinary wear and tear and to extraordinary stresses, such as high temperatures or toxins, diminishes.

Research in the Dillin laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, focuses on how organisms react to and mitigate the effects of stress at the cellular level — and how to boost such responses in aging organisms. In particular, their work queries how the incidence of age-related diseases directly linked to impaired stress response, diabetes and cancer among them, might be reduced to promote healthier aging.

Dr. Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria in the Dillin lab at the University of California, Berkeley

A major component of the Dillin laboratory’s work is directed at uncovering the genetic pathways implicated in the stress response. Ryo Higuchi-Sanabria, a postdoctoral fellow in the lab, explores this area of study in the C. elegans model system using whole-genome screening and target validation. A key approach is RNA interference (RNAi) screens, in which C. elegans nematodes are exposed to an RNAi library stored in 96- or 384-well format.

Each well of the library contains a cassette that can “knock down” one of the approximately 20,000 C. elegans genes, so that nematodes treated with this cassette effectively lack the function of the RNA or protein it encodes. The nematodes are then subjected to certain types of stress treatments. If nematodes missing the function of a particular gene-product have enhanced or reduced survival following the stress treatment, the genetic pathways in which they lie may play a role in the stress response.

Once candidate stress-related genes have been identified by screening, Dr. Higuchi-Sanabria and his colleagues use quantitative PCR to verify that the genes’ expression has truly been “knocked down” in the screened nematodes. Given C. elegans’ thousands of genes, preparing libraries, setting up screens, and validating candidate genes all require a great deal of pipetting, and the Dillin lab relies heavily on METTLER TOLEDO’s Rainin multichannel pipettes.

In 2018, METTLER TOLEDO launched its first Supporting Science initiative, offering the winner the pipette of his or her choice. Dr. Higuchi-Sanabria had previously spoken to the Dillin lab’s manager, Larry Joe, about purchasing additional Rainin multichannel pipettes. He was particularly interested in an adjustable-width multichannel pipette that could be used to transfer samples between microcentrifuge tubes in a rack and 96- or 384-well plates, or a 2–20 μL multichannel pipette that could accurately and precisely transfer limiting samples (3–12 μL) between PCR strips and well plates.

In the hope that one of these could be obtained free-of-charge, Mr. Joe encouraged Dr. Higuchi-Sanabria to enter the Supporting Science competition — which he won with an essay comparing his previous efficiency as a barista to his current experimental throughput in the Dillin lab.

METTLER TOLEDO is pleased to announce that Dr. Higuchi-Sanabria and the Dillin lab have opted for a 2–20 μL electronic multichannel pipette, which will accurately and precisely enhance their screening and validation throughput — with no risk of repetitive strain injury.

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