Chemical Genomics General Information

The Center for Chemical Genomics is available for use by Yale researchers to conduct biochemical and cell-based high throughput screens (HTS) to identify small molecules that modify the activities of biological systems of interest. In the Center, Yale researchers have performed a variety of assays to discover small molecules with specific activities for targets, cells or organisms including: enzymatic inhibitors, inhibitors of protein-protein interactions,  modifiers of protein polymerization states,  inducers and repressors of gene expression, toxic responses,  developmental modifiers in model organisms.

Our Screening Process
Screening step	How we work with you
1. Discussion	Understanding your screening goals, we work with you to identify or suggest screening reagents compatible with our instruments.
2. Manual Optimization	We help you survey assay conditions, using multichannel pipetman, collecting  signal and variability  data in 384-well plates to quantify and improve assay performance.
3. Robotic method development	We transfer the robust manually-developed assay to a robotic methods and test it.
4. Pilot screen	Typically, researchers screen the bioactive collection (960 compounds) first.
5. Larger screen	Robotic methods are adapted to handle stacks of plates, and the larger collection (20,000 compounds) is screened.
6. Dose response	Small molecule activity as a function of concentration is determined to confirm the primary screen and rank order compounds by potency. Analogs, or compounds sharing chemical features of screen hits, can also be tested.

The facility was established with a grant from the university, which was used to purchase compound libraries and state-of-the-art instruments. Laboratories performing screens bear costs for reagents and consumables required for their assays, in addition to user-fees for the screens.

A two-page brochure describing the Center can be found here.

Staff

Publications

Grant Assistance

Training/Education

Janie Merkel
Yale University, 219 Prospect St, KBT 736, New Haven, CT 06511
janie.merkel@yale.edu, 203-432-5930