About Us

The Flow Cytometry & Confocal Microscopy Facility provides investigators with access to sophisticated instruments designed to detect and measure fluorescent light emission. The flow cytometers distinguish cells or particles based on size, internal complexity, and fluorescent signals. Cells or particles can also be sorted to obtain pure populations for further analysis or subsequent culture. Available microscopes include an automated Zeiss epifluorescence microscope and a Leica laser scanning confocal microscope. These instruments can be used to image fluorescent and non fluorescent samples.

From left to right: Co-Facility Heads Joseph LoTurco, Michael Lynes, and Adam Zweifach; Facility Scientist Carol Norris; Co-Facility Heads David Knecht and Lawrence Silbart

Services and Instrumentation

BD Biosciences FACS Aria II Sorter--New

• State-of-the-art fluorescence-activated cell sorter
• Analyze up to 13 fluorescence channels plus forward scatter (relative size) and side scatter (internal complexity)
• Three lasers provide excitation at 407 nm, 488 nm, and 633 nm
• Digital electronics
• Acquisition rates of up to 70,000 events/second
• Sort up to four populations simultaneously
• Sort into a variety of tubes, multi-well plates, or onto slides
• Control temperature of collection tubes

BD Biosciences FACSCaliber Dual Laser Flow Cytometer

• Analyzes up to four fluorescence channels plus forward scatter and side scatter
• Two lasers provide excitation at 488 nm and 633 nm
• Applications include characterization of cell cycle, immunophenotyping, ploidy analysis, apoptosis assays, signal transduction assays, measurement of fluorescent protein expression

Facility Scientist Dr. Carol Norris at the FACSCalibur

FlowJo Analysis Workstation

• Post-acquisition compensation to correct cross-talk between fluorescence channels
• Multiple graphing options
• Algorithms for analysis of cell cycle and cell proliferation data

Leica SP2 Spectral Confocal Microscope

• Laser lines available for excitation: 458, 476, 488, 543, 633 nm
• Spectral separation of emission wavelengths
• Simultaneous imaging of three fluorescence channels and one transmitted light channel
• 3D imaging, FRET, FRAP, wavelength scanning, time lapse

Zeiss Axiovert 200M Fluorescence Microscope/Orca ER Camera

• Automated high resolution DIC/Phase/Darkfield/Brightfield imaging
• 12 bit gray scale image capture
• Color image capture
• Low light fluorescence imaging
• Time lapse imaging

Leica DM-IL Fluorescence Microscope

• Screening of fluorescent samples
• Interference contrast through plastic dishes
• Time lapse imaging using transmitted light techniques

Zeiss LSM 5 Multiphoton Confocal Microscope-New*

• System configured for intravital imaging of fluorescently labeled cells
• Zeiss Axoskop 2 FS upright scope with Sutter mechanical stage to accommodate most small animal preparations
• Chameleon Ultra II pulsed laser for multi-photon excitation of eGFP or mRFP labeled cells
• Time Lapse image acquisition software

*Contact: joseph.loturco@uconn.edu (860) 486-3271.

Andor Spinning Disk Confocal & TIRF Microscope—New

• High speed 4D confocal imaging with EMCCD camera
• Incubation chamber maintains live cells at 37C and 5-10% CO2
• 405, 488, 561, 633 laser line
• TIRF microscopy can be combined with confocal imaging

Available Reagents

FCCM has a small supply of reagents available at cost for pilot experiments. Contact the Facility Scientist for details.

Training and Education

FCCM Staff provide training and consultation in the use of facility instruments. Consultations are free but prospective users must schedule an appointment.

Cost for Services

Current pricing can obtained by contacting the Facility Scientist.

All current rates are subject to periodic review and change.