Minilys - Personal Tissue Homogenizer

The overall success of a next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflow is greatly impacted by the various sample preparation steps. Obtaining adequate quantity and acceptable quality of nucleic acids from the sample is highly dependent on the efficiency of homogenization.

In this application compendium, we present best practices for sample homogenization based on the protocols developed and tested by scientists. Applied across diverse sample types, such as biological tissue, food, and fecal samples, these methods demonstrate how high-quality, high-yield nucleic acids can be obtained by choosing optimized bead-beating homogenization protocols with Bertin’s Precellys homogenizers.

The eBook covers:

• Robust and unbiased microbial RNA extraction workflow
• MicroRNA expression profiling of individual rat hypothalamic nuclei
• Transcriptomic analysis of cheese-ripening microbial communities
• Microbiota analysis of fermented milk samples with NGS
• Optimized protocol for viral metagenomics studies
• DNA extraction from frozen tumor samples

Proteomics involves the analysis and identification of protein structure and function. Through the Proteomics Core, investigators have access to a broad range of proteomics services to help them answer scientific questions. For this particular research project on tendon healing, the Minilys homogenizer was used to homogenize minced or intact tendon for protein extraction, followed by mass spectrometry analysis to identify unique peptides.

This best practices guide for protein sample preparation using the Precellys® Evolution presents two application notes and two specific protocols for protein extraction.

Obtaining viable single cell suspension is the first step before performing flow cytometry. This application note describes how a single cell suspension with a high viability of living cells was obtained using Minilys® cell homogenizer within 5 seconds. Advantages of mechanical disruption include the ability to maintain metabolically active cells and faster speed in comparison to an enzymatic approach.

Fungi of medical interest in recent years have become primarily responsible for opportunist parasitic diseases, mainly because of the strong increase of immune-depressed patients. Fungal infections pose a challenge to health professionals who have to face variety of new emerging pathogens, but also manage the problem of resistance to antifungal treatments. In this application note, the viability of Candida yeast pathogens post homogenization from whole tissues of mice (lung, heart, liver, brain, kidney and spleen) using the Minilys with Precellys lysing kits was assessed.

PharmOptima, experienced in ophthalmology studies, currently uses Precellys to homogenize a variety of ocular tissues as cornea, conjunctiva, lens, iris-ciliary body, trabecular meshwork, sclera, retina, choroid, optic nerve. In this application note, Minilys has been compared to current method (Precellys) to homogenize whole iris-ciliary body from pork. Minilys homogenizer is an alternative for the standardization of sample preparation, especially designed for low throughput laboratory workflows and personal use, Minilys can homogenize 3 samples simultaneously in 0.5ml/2 ml tubes or 1 sample in 7 ml.

Efficient cell lysis, employed to release intracellular retained rAAV vectors, produces a crude cell lysate that is the starting material for a variety of subsequent purification and concentration method and is of crucial importance towards high-titer rAAV vector preparations. This application note investigates the use of the Minilys as an alternative solution to traditional freeze-thaw methods.

The common cypress pollen (Cupressus sempervirens) is becoming an increasing cause of respiratory allergy in Europe but because of its particular structural features and physico-chemical composition, cypress pollen is one of the most pollen difficult to analyze in terms of protein content and therefore allergens. Dry milling may be a good alternative for the extraction of cypress pollen proteins and to generate fragments of smaller sizes for experiments and ultrastructural analysis of immuno-reactivity.

This application note demonstrate the efficiency of the Minilys homogenizer for the sample preparation of plant leaves. Perfectly homogenized samples are important for the complete extraction of DNA, RNA, proteins or drugs from biological samples and the Minilys provide fast and cross-contamination free homogenization with a low throughput.

In this study, one of the primary protective cellular mechanisms against oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), is evaluated in arterial and venous conduits.

In this video, Bertin Technologies introduces Minilys, a flexible and personal homogenizer designed for cell/sample disruption, ideal for daily lab workflows. It is a small and compact device capable of fast hands-free disruption of a wide range of biological samples, prior to DNA, RNA, protein, or drug extraction, at a low throughput level. Minilys operates in 3D motion, adhering to standard protocols and providing more homogeneous results. It offers flexibility with lysing tubes of 0.5 mL, 2 mL, and 7 mL capacities and is easy to handle.

The Institute of Plant Molecular Biology is presently the largest CNRS centre devoted to integrative plant biology. It focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of plant growth, differentiation, development and defense reactions against pathogens and environmental stresses so reliable homogenization solution to get a representative sample was crucial for their studies. Watch this video to see how homogenization with Minilys allows higher RNA yield and high RNA quality is obtained from the samples.

Temperature is key in homogenization so as to keep the cells in their native state. Here the Cryolys option is displayed by Bertin Technologies to show how it can help regulate temperature.

This video from Bertin Technologies demonstrates the features and benefits of the Minilys homogenizer showing how it can homogenize three samples at the same time.

In this video the Institute of Plant Molecular Biology demonstrate the uses of the Minilys homogenizer from Bertin Technologies

In this video Bertin Technologies shows how robust the Minilys homogenizer is using the example of a mouse heart.

Here Bertin Technologies are conducting a study to homogenize tissues containing yeast without lysing the cells.

This video from Bertin Technologies shows the use of the Minilys homogenizer to improve on a method of lysing HEK 293T producer cells, so that they release viable intracellular viral vectors.

Specially designed for low-throughput laboratory workflows and personal use, Minilys homogenizes 3 samples simultaneously in 0.5ml/2 ml tubes or 1 sample in 7 ml. Small and compact, Minilys requires minimal bench space in your laboratory. Having a homogenizer for your own, you no longer have to wait for your turn to homogenize your samples!