Laser Microdissection with ZEISS PALM MicroBeam

The Patented Laser Technology for Contact-Free and Uncontaminated Specimen Collection

PALM MicroBeam uses a patented process to capture even the most demanding specimens - from cryosections, FFPE materials, native tissue like fresh plants, live cells and chromosomes - without contamination.

PALM MicroBeam uses a patented process to capture even the most demanding specimens - from cryosections, FFPE materials, native tissue like fresh plants, live cells and chromosomes - without contamination.

The Complete Workflow for Your Laser Microdissection Research

Laser Microdissection for Isolating High-Purity Tissue

PALM MicroBeam makes isolating uncontaminated source material simple. Precise detection, laser microdissection and patented laser transport allow you to obtain the homogenous analysis material necessary for meaningful scientific results.

Because analyses of gene expression patterns rely on exactly-separated analytical material, unwanted cells may alter your results and conceal the signals of the relevant cells. PALM MicroBeam prevents this by allowing you to define cells and tissue regions precisely, ensuring your results are exact and reproducible.

Highlights

From Laser Microdissection to Full Research Platform

PALM MicroBeam is designed to give you advanced laser microdissection capabilities.

Suitable for laser microdissection and analysis for DNA, RNA and protein isolation — whether from archive material or live cells
A system that completes the step from laser-microdissection to integrated imaging workstation
Applicable to cryosections, FFPE (formalin fixed and paraffin embedded) tissue
Performing LCM even from standard glass slides, e.g. archived material, with ZEISS-patented sample capture technology
Extendibility – add digital cameras from the AxioCam camera range for fluorescence, bright field, multi-channel fluorescence and extended focus
Ability to integrate additional components into MicroBeam and create simple workflows, whether for individual experiments or automation with flexible collectors
Calibration routines that allow you to easily adjust MicroBeam for laser parameters appropriate to your chosen specimen.

Technology

Patented Laser Catapult for Contamination-free Sample Isolation

PALM MicroBeam uses a focused laser beam to cut out and isolate your selected specimen without contact. The patented laser catapult isolates your target area fast and uncontaminated.

Objectives with a high numerical aperture bundle the energy so precisely that they are able to work to an accuracy of well under a micrometer. You even manipulate down to the subcellular level, without involving neighboring tissue.

The laser pulse of your PALM MicroBeam only affects your specimen for approximately one nanosecond. In this short time heat transfer to adjacent tissue is negligible, ensuring gentle isolation that also allows for live cell recultivation. You even isolate sensitive stem cell specimens without influencing their vitality or genetic structure.

Maximum Precision

Research at the Molecular Level

When you are investigating DNA, you need to select your source material carefully. Even sensitive methods of analysis can amplify unwanted material – and the slightest contamination can alter your results. If you are testing individual cells, it only takes one unwanted cell to result in a contamination error of 100%.

PALM MicroBeam solves this problem by allowing you to isolate high-purity biomolecules from heterogeneous tissue safely, quickly and reproducibly. For example, you can separate tumor tissue with a high level of purity and carry out exact, error-free and reproducible mutation analyses. You also successfully investigate archived specimens from pathology or forensics with PALM MicroBeam – and in contrast to other laser microdissection techniques you are able to use your normal glass slides.

Because analyses of gene expression patterns rely on exactly- separated analytical material, unwanted cells can alter your results and conceal the signals of the relevant cells. PALM MicroBeam prevents this happening by allowing you to define cells and tissue regions precisely, ensuring your results are exact and reproducible.

Webinars

LCM Proteomics

Benefit from experts' tips and tricks!

Workflow experience using LCM – June 2011

Laser Microdissection from ZEISS

A benefit for agricultural research and breeding

November 2010

Downloads

The PALM Family - A New Dimension in Sample Purity

Integrated Laser Microdissection and Microscope Systems for Live Cells and Fixed Material

23 Pages
Filesize: 4,842 kB

Download

Laser Microdissection: A Key Technology for Microproteomics

Isolate a single cell population Isolate 30.000 cells in one step within seconds Seamless integrate LCM into your workflow

7 Pages
Filesize: 2,198 kB

Download

On-Chip Single Cell Analysis - for PALM MicroBeam

For Single Cell Genotyping, Sequencing and Expression Analysis: Reliable, Safe, Reproducible

2 Pages
Filesize: 2,117 kB

Download

Publications

Including MicroBeam, CombiSystem & MicroTweezers
Download

Protocols of ZEISS Labs

The Unique Microdissection Service

LCM Protocols – Protein Handling for LC/MS
Non contact Laser Capture Microdissection - June 2011
(24 pages)
Download (7.630 kB)

PALM Protocols – RNA handling
Dos and Don’ts, slide preparation, archived samples, staining procedures, storage, laser microdissection procedure, collection devices and procedures. Downstream applications, RNA from FFPE and frozen sections, QIAGEN RNeasy FFPE kit, quality control, lab tips.
(28 pages)
Download (612 kB)

PALM Protocols – DNA handling
Preparation and treatment of slides, mounting samples onto slides, staining procedures, laser microdissection procedure, collection devices and procedures, cap check. Downstream applications, DNA from FFPE and frozen sections. QIAamp DNA procedure. PCR set up.
(26 pages)
Download (8.017 kB)

Chromosome Preparation
Chromosome preparation, staining, procedure of laser microdissection, collection procedures, collection onto AmpliGrid slide, consumables and components. Collection devices, lenses.
(20 pages)
Download (7.147 kB)

Cell Culture, non-contact Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) and Recultivation
Cultivation of cells, coating of Dishes and Slides, improvement of visualization, procedure of laser microdissection, recultivation, time lapse, incubators. Optical Tweezers.
(14 pages)
Download (500 kB)

Immunofluorescence on frozen sections
Tips before starting, microtome cutting, antibody staining.
(5 pages)
Download (437 kB)

FISH Hybridization
Chromosome preparation. Preparation of chromosome paints. Hybridization of painting probes. Preparation of centromeric probes.
(15 pages)
Download (389 kB)

AutoLPC from glass slides results in good quality RNA
For RNA experiments on microdissected samples we usually recommend the use of MembraneSlides. Sometimes only old archived slides are available. We show that even this kind of slides is useful for RNA preparation. After removing the coverslip the unique and proprietary software function of “AutoLPC” allows quick access to the desired tissue area. And we could prove that this method does not influence the RNA quality.
(6 pages)
Download (2.287 kB)

RNA extraction from FFPE sections
Short protocol. Tips and recommendations for using FFPE sections as source for RNA extraction.
(4 pages)
Download (568 kB)

RNA extraction from frozen sections
Short protocol. Especially helpful for RNase rich tissue. Tips for microtome cutting and special staining (cresylviolet).
(4 pages)
Download (179 kB)

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The PALM Family - A New Dimension in Sample Purity

Laser Microdissection: A Key Technology for Microproteomics

On-Chip Single Cell Analysis - for PALM MicroBeam