New technology:
Identification of flanking genomic regions via LAM-PCR

Constance (July 11th, 2005) – With a new technology for the identification and sequencing of unknown flanking regions of known genomic segments, GATC Biotech adds one more module to its service portfolio for comprehensive genome analysis.

Originally established for the human genome, is the method of LAM-PCR (linear amplification-mediated polymerase chain reaction) transferable to any other organism and allows for the extension of small known segments in genomes of any size. Example applications are the analysis of insertion sites in stably transformed cell lines or a characterisation along with the generation of transgenic mice or genetically modified plants. The method offers reliability and a great prospect of success where other methods like inverse PCR fail.

The patented method has been invented by Prof. Christof von Kalle and Dr. Manfred Schmidt from the University Clinic for Internal Medicine and the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research in Freiburg, and is used there to identify the flanking regions of retroviral insertion sites for monitoring gene therapy studies. That way they analyse, for example, if the retroviral insertion has hit an oncogene.

Prof. von Kalle is pleased with the cooperation:“GATC is an experienced partner who introduces our method into the market and makes it available to a broad molecular biological public.”

Thomas Pohl, CTO of GATC Biotech:”In pilot projects we could effectively move forward the research of several customers, who had endeavoured / tried other methods in vain”.

About GATC Biotech
GATC Biotech (www.gatc-biotech.com), located in Constance (Germany) and having a subsidiary in Cambridge, UK, is a leading provider of molecular biological services and innovative bioinformatics solutions for industry and academia worldwide. GATC helps its customers to complete their research projects quickly, efficiently and economically.
As of today, GATC has developed a wide range of genomic services and sequenced more than 25 genomes. GATC‘s extensive portfolio makes it the leading service provider for research in genomics, transcriptomics, functional analysis and bioinfomatics in Europe. Through its proprietry laboratory information management system (LIMS) and ABI’s state-of-the-art 3730 capillary sequencer technology, GATC has developed a highly automated sample handling process flexible enough to cope with single tubes to 96 or 384 well plates to provide you with possibly the highest quality data in Europe. GATC distributes and supports a variety of bioinformatic software, such as the software products (e.g. Lasergene) of DNASTAR Inc., Madison, WI, furthermore ERGO, the Comparative Genomics suite of Integrated Genomics, Chicago, and all software products (e.g. Mutation Explorer and GeneMarker) of SoftGenetics LLC, State College, PA. Today GATC remains at the forefront of customer service as the only European company that allows customers to trace & track their order status online and in real time via internet and mobile phone. Most of GATC‘s employees are scientists with long-term experience in biotechnology and molecular biology. GATC is privately owned and profitable since its foundation in 1990.

Contact:

GATC Biotech AG
Elke Decker, Senior Director Marketing
Jakob-Stadler-Platz 7
D-78467 Konstanz, Deutschland
Tel: +49-7531-8160-30
Fax:+49-7531-8160-81
eMail: e.decker@gatc-biotech.com
Web: www.gatc-biotech.com

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