Biotechnology Projects

Biotechnology Research Center (BRC) Animal Laboratory is designed to facilitate in vivo experiments. In vivo experiments are one of the most important experimental stages in medical, pharmacological, and biological research, leading to clinical research. BRC animal laboratory is designed to facilitate the husbandry of small laboratory animals, in addition, to supporting in vivo experiments. The laboratory is designed in accordance with guidelines including the CCAC Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the NIH Vivarium Design Policy and Guidelines. We have the policy to run a facility that has high standards for the welfare of laboratory animals and the safety of laboratory personnel.

Biotechnology Research Center Microbiology Laboratory is a dedicated and active laboratory facility for research in microbiology. The laboratory is part of a multidisciplinary laboratory complex. The broad range of research projects including MSc and Ph.D. projects are supported by the microbiology laboratory. In addition to work on isolated microorganisms, the interaction of prokaryote and eukaryotic cells in co-culture and the effects of bacteria and bacterial products on cancer is studied. Virulence factors including bacterial pili and their interaction with cancer cells are among the researched topics. Clinical isolates and the effect of natural products and plant extracts on these, as well as laboratory strains, are studied. Shaking and static incubators, colony counters, autoclaves, and microscopes are among the frequently used equipment in the microbiology laboratory.

Biotechnology Research Center Electrophysiology and Imaging Laboratory is a two part laboratory specialized in electrophysiological and imaging studies. The first part of the laboratory is designed to accommodate two fully equipped patch-clamp rig systems to facilitate electrophysiological studies. These patch clamp systems can be used to study essential electrical activity in excitable cells or tissues such as neurons and cardiomyocytes, and cancer cells. These systems are also important in pharmacological studies. The second part of the laboratory accommodates up to 3 imaging systems such as confocal microscopy and live imaging stations. These systems are important in immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry and live functional studies using specialized indicator dyes.

Biotechnology Research Center Cell Culture Laboratory is equipped with normoxic and hypoxic cell culture incubators, biosafety cabinets, a fully equipped fluorescent (broad spectrum) microscopy system, cryogenic cell/tissue storage tank, ultra-freezer (-80oC), and metastatic cell behavior study systems including a microplate reader (Elisa reader). This fully functional and highly active laboratory facility is being used in cell culture, pharmacological, and metastatic cell behavior experiments. The laboratory contains a cell bank that is used in the long time storage of cell lines including human breast cancer cell models (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and rat prostate cancer cell models (Mat-LyLu and AT2). In addition, the BRC laboratory supports other laboratories by supplying working material.

The main function of the Biotechnology Research Center Molecular and Wet Laboratory is to facilitate molecular studies. The laboratory is divided into several functional working stations according to the subject material and contamination risks. These working stations include a solution preparation station (pH meter, magnetic stirrer, distilled water maker, etc.) to prepare solutions and pharmacologic agents; a protein work station (refrigerated centrifuge, SDS electrophoresis system, Western blotting system, and chemiluminescence imaging systems) for protein isolation and expression studies; DNA work station (Nano spectrophotometer, centrifuge, heating block, etc.) for cDNA synthesis; PCR work station (realtime PCR rotary cycler, UV imaging system, horizontal electrophoresis system) for nucleotide expression studies; RNA work station (centrifuge, heating block, etc.) for RNA isolation and expression studies.