We use a wide range of experimental techniques (biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, confocal imaging and electrophysiology.) Specific details concerning the apparatus and methods available in our laboratory are listed below.


BIOCHEMISTRY

"ÄKTA purifier" chromatography system, ultracentrifuge and mid-range centrifuges, sonicators, spectrophotometer, spectrofluorimeter, equipment for electrophoresis and Western blot, apparatus to measure radioactivity : gamma and beta counters, incubators for the culture of bacteria and yeast. On the campus we have access to a proteomics platform (Centre d’Analyse Protéomique de Marseille – CAPM http://crn2m.univ-mrs.fr/plates-formes-pfrn/proteomique-capm/) equipped with mass spectrometers and SPR optical biocaptors (surfaceplasmon resonance).


MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Developed in association with the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Laboratory of the University Hospital (CHU Nord), directed by Jean Gabert  the laboratory is equipped for quantitative PCR (qPCR) allowing reat time analysis of DNA, RNA and microRNA (http://www.unis-neuro.com/plateforme-biomarqueurs-diagnostic.php), tLDA technology (TaqMan Low Density Array), a Nanodrop spectrometer and a SynGene fluorescent gel imager. We routinely construct prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors in the laboratory. 


CELL BIOLOGY

The unit has a cell culture laboratory with level 2 security. We use acute brain slices from the hippocampus, cortex and substantia nigra, primary cultutres of dissociated hippocampal neurones and organotypic slice cultures from the hippocampus and substantia nigra compacta, as well as cultured sympathetic neurons from the rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG). These preparations are used for electropysiology and immunocytochemistry.


MICROSCOPY

The laboratory has two confocal microscopes, one of which is used for fixed tissue samples (immunohistochemsitry) while the other is used to image living tissue and can be coupled to electrophysiological analysis.


ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

We currently have 8 patch clamp set-ups mostly equipped with fluorescent cameras and several micromanipulators to allow multiple recordings from the same neuron (soma/dendrite or soma/axon) or synaptic recording from pairs of neurons. One patch clamp set-up is equipped with a confocal microscope which allows us to combine high resolution imaging with electrophysiological recording on acute slices or cultures. Two set-ups have dynamic clamp systems which can combine digital simulations with electrophysiological recording to study the precise role of the biophysical parameters of ionic currents on neuronal function.