Steve--
I agree that R2B is expensive. Like yourself, I'm only running a few
sequencing samples per month these days, probably 5-10 per month, certainly
not every day. This is good as it leaves me more time for proteomics!. I
keep the R2B bottle on the sequencer (a Procise 494) for up to four (yes,
that's 4) months with no problems in sequencing. When the Procise was
installed, I was told that the entire volume in the bottle of R2B was
potentially useful--this is quite different from the old R2 (12.5% TMA in
water) which had to be changed as soon as the volume dropped by 10%. I'm
supposing that the concentration of the reagent stays constant as the
reagent is depleted because the N-methyl piperdine is in methanol rather
than water.
When I am not sequencing samples, I keep the sequencer on an active idle
procedure which I wrote that cycles the chemicals through the valve blocks
rather than just blowing argon over the headspace in the bottles. The
sequencer has been more stable over time after I started using this active
idle. Although running the active idle does use up chemicals, it's not much
and the greater stability of the sequencer is worth it.
Having said all that, I realize that older sequencer models do not feature
an idle procedure. You can still write one but you will have to remind
yourself to run it. Alternatively, you can just run one cycle every couple
of days or more often if you wish.
If you are going to be at the ABRF meeting, look me up and we can talk about
this further.
Janice
Janice Bleibaum
Roche Bioscience
Protein Sequencing and Proteomics
3401 Hillview Ave.
M/S S3-1
Palo Alto CA 94304
(650)852-1639
janice.bleibaum@roche.com
> ----------
> From: Steve Hartson
> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2001 11:28 AM
> To: Recipients of ABRF List
> Subject: ProtSeq R2B costs
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> We're running a small core with infrequent protein sequencing orders (2-3
> per month). The cost of R2B and its quoted lifespan currently threatens
> our ability to continue this service.
>
> Are there reasonable ways for me to reduce this expense? I'm new to the
> field, so any and all suggestions would be welcome. One thing that has
> caught my eye is that the cost of R2B is completely out of proportion to
> the cost of raw N-methylpiperidine (but there may be more to the
> picture?).
>
> Additionally, this novice would also be grateful for other cost-cutting
> suggestions. (I've seen previous posts on the feasibility of mixing
> old+new bottles of non-R2 rgts.)
>
>
> Steven D. Hartson, Ph.D.
> Recombinant DNA/Protein Core Facility
> Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
> Oklahoma State University
> NRC 246
> Stillwater, OK 74078-3035
> (405)744-6191 phone
> (405)744-7799 FAX
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Apr 02 2001 - 10:20:49 EDT