The UAMS Proteomics Core provides a full range of services required for protein characterization by mass spectrometry, including protein identification, mapping of post-translational modifications, global proteomics, and quantitative comparison of proteins in biological samples. Please contact core personnel at proteomics@uams.edu to discuss how the core can support your research.

The mechanisms of toxic tissue injury and cell death underlie numerous human diseases as well as the effects of pharmaceutical drugs and environmental toxins. These mechanisms are complex and vary with tissue structure, vascularization, spectrum of cell death proteins, nature of damaging agent, the strength, length and frequency of the exposure to the injury, and many other factors. Accordingly, cell death can take forms of apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, mitotic catastrophe, as well as some intermediate or more specific forms of cell death including aponecrosis, oncosis, anoikis or abortosis. To approach this complexity, the best strategy for assessment of toxic tissue injury includes the use of: a) common methods that occur in all injuries independent of causes, mechanisms or the origin of tissue; b) methods that are quantitative; and c) approaches that allow, if necessary, combining observations with other methods to determine the mechanism of cell injury and death.

DNA fragmentation (i.e., accumulation of unprepared double-stranded DNA breaks) is a form of DNA damage, which indicates that cell death reached the point of no return and became irreversible. DNA fragmentation is a hallmark of all types of cell death regardless of the mechanism. To determine the mechanisms and molecules involved in cell death, DNA fragmentation assays can be easily combined with immunocytochemistry.

The Flow Core facility offers several services including analysis by flow cytometry, cell sorting and cytokine analysis. The Facility has 3 instruments: FACS Calibur for up to 4-color analysis, DNA cell cycle, cell proliferation, etc, the FACS Aria for up to 9 color analysis as well as cell sorting, and the Bioplex for cytokine analysis.

The UAMS DNA Sequencing Facility provides DNA sequencing using an Applied Biosystems 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Turn around time is typically within two business days. Common vector primers are provided free of charge. New customers get two free reactions.