Gift EA, Park HJ, Paradis GA, Demain AL, Weaver JC. FACS-based isolation of slowly growing cells: double encapsulation of yeast in gel microdrops.
Nat Biotechnol 1996;
14:884-7. [PMID:
9631016 DOI:
10.1038/nbt0796-884]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Isolating hyperproducing cells is important in biotechnology, but these cells usually grow slowly and can be overgrown by poorly producing cells. We describe a new method of isolating slowly growing cells from among rapidly growing cells, which has the potential for automation and high throughput (e.g., 100,000 cells/h). A model system is presented consisting of a mixed population of slowly growing mutant and rapidly growing wild-type yeast, which were encapsulated in double agarose gel microdrops (dGMDs); with most dGMDs initially containing single cells. Double encapsulation locates parent cells near dGMD centers, making microcolony measurement more accurate. After a 15-h incubation, fluorescent activated cell sorting was used to analyze and sort dGMDs with small microcolonies (slow growers) from dGMDs with large microcolonies (rapid growers). Successful isolation of slow growers from a mixed population of predominantly rapidly growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells was achieved.
Collapse