Genome Engineering

The Genome Engineering Shared Resource (GESR) is a Core dedicated for the use of all Masonic Cancer Center members. Its purpose is to provide (at cost) state-of-the-art genome editing services for human cell lines. The GESR will initially have the capacity to make standard knockouts and knockins for your favorite gene in your favorite cell line. Ultimately GESR will provide services for making conditional alleles and epitope tagging endogenous genes as well as carrying out whole genome knockout screens.

New clients should get in touch with the GESR team by emailing gesr@umn.edu.

The goal of the GESR is to utilize state-of-the-art CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting to efficiently generate desired modifications in mammalian cells in a timely manner in order to accelerate the individual researchers intellectual pursuit. Watch a video on genome editing from the McGovern Institute.

 

Service requests

Genome Engineering request form
Each customer should provide as much information about the cell line they are targeting and the desired modification so that initial planning can be started before the first consultation meeting is set up.

Download the Service Request Form

Sample Submission
Cell lines to be engineered can be submitted either frozen or as a live culture in a sealed cell culture flask between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or arrange their pickup with our lab staff contact.  See staff list.

Turn-around time
Projects will be started in the order they are received. The amount of time estimated to complete the genome engineering process will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Pick-up of produced products
Completed cell lines can be picked up as either a frozen stock or as a live culture provided in a sealed T25 flask from 6-108 MCB.

Cytogenomics
Investigators are encouraged to submit their chosen cell line to the Cytogenomics Shared Resource for G-band Karyotyping to determine the ploidy status and genomic integrity before proceeding with genetic modification by the GESR.

The University of Minnesota Genome Engineering Shared Resource (GESR) does not expect authorship on studies involving the tools we generate. We do, however, ask that researchers who use reagents generated by the GESR consider extending co-authorship on your posters and manuscripts if GESR staff provide substantial intellectual input to study and/or reagent design and production. In addition, please include in the "Acknowledgements" section of relevant posters, publications, and oral research presentations the following statement (or suitable alternative): "Genome editing reagents and genome edited cell lines were provided by the University of Minnesota Genome Engineering Shared Resource (Minneapolis, MN)."

Location

Laboratory
CCRB 3-230 Bench 50

Expand all

ILAB

Going forward, the MCC- Genome Engineering at the University of Minnesota is excited to start using an online system to streamline the process of requesting and billing for core services. All facility users are invited to use the system, which requires a one-time registration as discussed below. Once you are registered, the system will enable you to place service requests, provide required approvals, and monitor progress.

To register for an account:
To get started, you must register for an account:

  1. Navigate to the core page: https://umn.corefacilities.org/service_center/show_external/4828
  2. In the upper-right-hand corner click ‘LOGIN’ and you should be directed to the UMN Sign In page.
  3. Login using your UMN credentials.
  4. Upon successful authentication, you will be prompted to select your PI/lab from the pull-down list and provide your phone number.
  5. Submit the completed registration form. Submission will notify your PI of your lab membership request.
  6. You will be sent an email with basic instructions on using the system at this time. However, you will not be able to place orders with your new account until your PI has approved your lab membership request.

To create a service request:
Once you have been accepted into your PI’s lab and assigned an EFS Account Strings, you can submit requests.

  1. Navigate to the core page: https://umn.corefacilities.org/service_center/show_external/4828
  2. In the upper-right-hand corner click ‘LOGIN’ A pop-up window should appear displaying, ‘Sign in using UMN (with UMN ID) credentials’ Click the here link.
  3. Enter your user id and password, and sign in.
  4. Select the Request Services tab and click on the ‘Request Service’ button next to the service of interest.
  5. You will be asked to complete a form and provide payment information for your request before submitting the request to the core.
  6. Your request will be pending review by the core. The core will add charges and submit it back to you for approval. Make sure to watch for an email from iLab regarding your updated project.

Additional help
More detailed instructions are available on our helpsite. For any questions not addressed, click on the “HELP” link in the upper right hand corner or contact ilab-support@agilent.com.