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Myra for Bead Cleanup

Bead cleanup can be used for many applications, including:

Size Selection in Cloning: When cloning DNA fragments into vectors, size selection can be crucial for isolating fragments of interest, ensuring that only DNA pieces of the desired size are ligated into the cloning vector.

Molecular Diagnostics: In diagnostic applications, bead-based cleanup can be used to enrich for target DNA or RNA fragments of specific sizes to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic process.

CRISPR-Cas9: Bead cleanup is used for techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing workflows. This includes the preparation of donor DNA templates, the cleanup of CRISPR-Cas9 components, the selection of edited fragments for analysis, and optimization of delivery vectors.

Bead cleanup is a tedious and complex task, but the Myra liquid handling system is easy to use, accurate, fast, efficient, and cost-effective for this purpose. Because pipetting precision is user-dependent, it can introduce variability that may affect reproducibility. Thus, automation of bead cleanup guarantees consistent and precise protocol execution, reducing the likelihood of user errors. This enhanced reproducibility is crucial for maintaining data quality and consistency.

Principle

DNA cleanup can be used for different genomic applications like NGS, PCR, Cloning and Fragment Analysis. It utilizes Solid Phase Reversible Immobilisation (SPRI) paramagnetic bead technology to selectively bind nucleic acids by type and size, making it automation-friendly. The automation of the cleanup process provides a standardized workflow for improved results as well as a reduction in costly errors and hands-on time.

Bead Cleanup on Myra

Browse a comprehensive table of all available templates on Myra, complete with direct links to specific MyraScript pages. Access protocol documentation via a dedicated PDF link. Verified options include templates for BMS, Partner (kit company), and the Myra community (customers).

Case Study: CleanNGS Bead Cleanup

The efficiency of DNA purification using CleanNGS beads (CleanNA, Netherlands) was evaluated on the Myra liquid handling system in comparison to manual purification.

Download Case Study PDFView Scripts

Experimental Setup

Bead Cleanup Protocol

The following protocol was performed:

1. Pipette 22 uL of beads into a 200 uL PCR plate
2. Thoroughly mix beads with the sample to bind DNA
3. Capture beads using magnets (3 min)
4. Perform 2x wash steps with 100 uL of 80% Ethanol to remove impurities and contaminants
5. Air-dry to remove residual traces of Ethanol (5 min)
6. Pipette 21 uL of elution buffer into the beads and release the magnets
7. Resuspend beads and mix with the elution buffer to release DNA
8. Capture beads using magnets (3 min)
9. Elute 15 uL of purified DNA into new tubes

For the experiment, a PCR product (550 bp) was purified in sets of 8 replicates, using the two different methods in parallel (Myra and manual). For the manual purification, the same protocol was performed by hand. Purification yield and purity were compared using the Qsep100 Capillary Electrophoresis System and S2 Quantitative Cartridge (BiOptic Inc., Taiwan, Figure 1). All experiments were conducted by our Swiss partner Labgene Scientific.

Figure 1. Capillary electrophoresis gels of PCR product purification
analysed on BiOptic Qsep1-Plus with S2 Cartridge for two sets of 8
replicates Myra vs. manual.

Results

The data clearly showed that Myra achieved significantly higher yields of purified PCR product compared with the manual method (Figure 2).

Reproducibility of yield was also tighter when using the Myra.

Fragment analyzer results showed correct fragment sizes across all 16 PCR samples purified using both the Myra and manual methods (Figure 1).

The results highlight the advantages of using Myra for bead cleanup, as it not only increases the DNA yield but also makes the results more accurate and consistent. Myra automation reduces operator stress levels and allows you to focus on your research.

Figure 2. Significantly higher yield of PCR product was obtained when using bead cleanup on the Myra vs. manual setup.

Additional Accessories

The following accessories are recommended for achieving library prep on the Myra liquid handling system.

Myra 96 Well Magnetic Station

MYRA-MAGS96

Designed to provide automated magnet control for up to 96 x 0.2 mL tubes, including strips of 8, and 96 tapered well plates (including fully skirted, unskirted and semi-skirted plates). Magnets are applied to groups of 24 wells at a time. Made from aluminium.

Myra 96 Well Cooling Block

MYRA-COOL96

Designed to provide passive cooling for 96 x 0.2 mL tubes including strips of 8, and 96 tapered well plates (including fully skirted, unskirted and semi-skirted plates).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bead cleanup and why is it important?
Bead cleanup is a process that utilizes paramagnetic beads to capture DNA or RNA fragments by size selectively. It is critical in molecular protocols since it serves to eliminate contaminants such as enzymes, salts, and primers that impact downstream applications. By providing cleaner nucleic acids, bead cleanup enhances the precision of processes such as PCR, using the q-PCR machine, NGS, and cloning. By employing a trustworthy system such as the Myra liquid handling system, bead cleanup becomes more routine and streamlined.
What genomic applications benefit from bead cleanup?
Bead cleanup enables a variety of genomic applications in which fragment size and purity are key. These include NGS, PCR, q-PCR, cloning, CRISPR-Cas9 processes, and fragment analysis. It is used extensively in molecular diagnostics, where clean nucleic acids enhance sensitivity and specificity. Myra automation guarantees that such applications utilize better yields with fewer errors.
Why automate bead cleanup using Myra?
Automating bead cleanup using the Myra liquid handling system minimizes variability due to manual pipetting. Myra delivers precise, reproducible results by executing programmed protocols with high precision. This conserves hands-on time, decreases operator fatigue, and maintains data integrity. Myra’s automation also makes bead cleanup scalable for labs looking to scale up without sacrificing quality.
How does Myra improve the consistency of bead cleanup?
The Myra liquid handling platform eliminates user-dependent variability with the automation of every step of bead cleanup. From pipetting beads through washing and elution, every action is carried out with reproducible precision. This results in tighter reproducibility in DNA purity and yield versus manual approaches. Consistency is essential in molecular workflows where trustworthy data supports experiment success.
Is Myra bead cleanup suitable for high-throughput workflows?
Yes, Myra bead cleanup is perfect for high-throughput applications. It can handle multiple samples in parallel without much human input, ensuring accuracy in every replicate. The automation of the system minimizes the risk of cross-contamination and accelerates the processing time, which is particularly useful for laboratories with high-throughput genomic applications.
Where Can I Learn More?
You can request a demo of the Myra liquid handling system or contact our team for more information about bead cleanup solutions. We are happy to assist with any questions about your workflow requirements.