GATC Biotech

Last updated
GATC Biotech AG
TypeLimited Company
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded1990;33 years ago (1990)
HeadquartersKonstanz, Germany
Subsidiaries
  • GATC Biotech AB, Stockholm, Sweden (100%)
  • GATC Biotech Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom (100%)
  • GATC Biotech SARL, Marseille, France (100%)
Website www.eurofinsgenomics.eu

GATC Biotech was a German company specialist in DNA and RNA sequencing for academic and industrial partners worldwide. The company offered sequencing and bioinformatics solutions from single samples up to large-scale projects. 'The Genome and Diagnostic Centre' focusing on next and third-generation sequencing was based in the headquarters in Constance, Germany. The fully automated NGS laboratories were certified under ISO 17025. The Sanger sequencing business was located in 'The European Custom Sequencing Centre' in Cologne, Germany. The proximity to Cologne Bonn Cargo GmbH served as the logistical hub within Europe. GATC Biotech was acquired by Eurofins Genomics (part of Eurofins Scientific) in July 2017.

Contents

History

Founded in 1990 the company concentrated in the early days on commercialising a nonradioactive sequencing technology platform, [1] patented by Prof. Pohl, one of the founders of GATC.

The direct blotting electrophoresis system, the GATC 1500 was utilised in the European Saccharomyces cerevisiae [2] genome project. In 1996 started the transformation from an instrument manufacturer to a service provider in the field of DNA and RNA sequencing. As part of the Gene Alliance, founded in 1998, the company was involved in the large-scale genome analysis project Aspergillus niger funded by DSM (The Netherlands) and finished in 2001. [3]

In 2006 the company started to develop the next generation sequencing business division adding the Europe's first commercial PacBio RS platform in 2011.

In July 2017 GATC Biotech was acquired by Eurofins Genomics (part of Eurofins Scientific).

Structure of the company

GATC Biotech was a limited company and had several subsidiaries in Europe.

Products

The range of products covers the Sanger sequencing applications [4] as well as next generation sequencing, such as de novo sequencing, human exome sequencing for clinical settings and RNA-Seq.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genomics</span> Discipline in genetics

Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, three-dimensional structural configuration. In contrast to genetics, which refers to the study of individual genes and their roles in inheritance, genomics aims at the collective characterization and quantification of all of an organism's genes, their interrelations and influence on the organism. Genes may direct the production of proteins with the assistance of enzymes and messenger molecules. In turn, proteins make up body structures such as organs and tissues as well as control chemical reactions and carry signals between cells. Genomics also involves the sequencing and analysis of genomes through uses of high throughput DNA sequencing and bioinformatics to assemble and analyze the function and structure of entire genomes. Advances in genomics have triggered a revolution in discovery-based research and systems biology to facilitate understanding of even the most complex biological systems such as the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DNA sequencer</span> A scientific instrument used to automate the DNA sequencing process

A DNA sequencer is a scientific instrument used to automate the DNA sequencing process. Given a sample of DNA, a DNA sequencer is used to determine the order of the four bases: G (guanine), C (cytosine), A (adenine) and T (thymine). This is then reported as a text string, called a read. Some DNA sequencers can be also considered optical instruments as they analyze light signals originating from fluorochromes attached to nucleotides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molecular genetics</span> Scientific study of genes at the molecular level

Molecular genetics is a sub-field of biology that addresses how differences in the structures or expression of DNA molecules manifests as variation among organisms. Molecular genetics often applies an "investigative approach" to determine the structure and/or function of genes in an organism's genome using genetic screens. The field of study is based on the merging of several sub-fields in biology: classical Mendelian inheritance, cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology. Researchers search for mutations in a gene or induce mutations in a gene to link a gene sequence to a specific phenotype. Molecular genetics is a powerful methodology for linking mutations to genetic conditions that may aid the search for treatments/cures for various genetics diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DNA sequencing</span> Process of determining the nucleic acid sequence

DNA sequencing is the process of determining the nucleic acid sequence – the order of nucleotides in DNA. It includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. The advent of rapid DNA sequencing methods has greatly accelerated biological and medical research and discovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanger sequencing</span> Method of DNA sequencing developed in 1977

Sanger sequencing is a method of DNA sequencing that involves electrophoresis and is based on the random incorporation of chain-terminating dideoxynucleotides by DNA polymerase during in vitro DNA replication. After first being developed by Frederick Sanger and colleagues in 1977, it became the most widely used sequencing method for approximately 40 years. It was first commercialized by Applied Biosystems in 1986. More recently, higher volume Sanger sequencing has been replaced by next generation sequencing methods, especially for large-scale, automated genome analyses. However, the Sanger method remains in wide use for smaller-scale projects and for validation of deep sequencing results. It still has the advantage over short-read sequencing technologies in that it can produce DNA sequence reads of > 500 nucleotides and maintains a very low error rate with accuracies around 99.99%. Sanger sequencing is still actively being used in efforts for public health initiatives such as sequencing the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 as well as for the surveillance of norovirus outbreaks through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) CaliciNet surveillance network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jozef Schell</span> Belgian molecular biologist

Jozef Stefaan "Jeff", Baron Schell was a Belgian molecular biologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OAS1</span>

2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the OAS1 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HOXD10</span> Protein-coding gene in humans

Homeobox D10, also known as HOXD10, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the HOXD10 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASCC3L1</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein 200 kDa helicase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SNRNP200 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CPSF2</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor subunit 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CPSF2 gene. This protein is a subunit of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) complex which plays a key role in pre-mRNA 3' end processing and polyadenylation.The CPSF2 protein connects the two subunits of the complex, mCF and mPSF. Its structure contributes both to the stability of the subunits interaction and to the flexibility of the complex necessary for function. This protein has been identified as an essential subunit of the complex as certain mutations in the region inhibit CPSF complex formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZNF43</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Zinc finger protein 43 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZNF43 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PCBP3</span> Gene of the species Homo sapiens

Poly(rC)-binding protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PCBP3 gene.

RNA, U2 small nuclear, also known as RNU2, is a human gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SNAPC1</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

snRNA-activating protein complex subunit 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SNAPC1 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FOXD4</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Forkhead box protein D4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FOXD4 gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcyphosin</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Calcyphosin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CAPS gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PIGB</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

GPI mannosyltransferase 3 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PIGB gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queuosine</span> Chemical compound

Queuosine is a modified nucleoside that is present in certain tRNAs in bacteria and eukaryotes. It contains the nucleobase queuine. Originally identified in E. coli, queuosine was found to occupy the first anticodon position of tRNAs for histidine, aspartic acid, asparagine and tyrosine. The first anticodon position pairs with the third "wobble" position in codons, and queuosine improves accuracy of translation compared to guanosine. Synthesis of queuosine begins with GTP. In bacteria, three structurally unrelated classes of riboswitch are known to regulate genes that are involved in the synthesis or transport of pre-queuosine1, a precursor to queuosine: PreQ1-I riboswitches, PreQ1-II riboswitches and PreQ1-III riboswitches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PAPOLG</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Poly(A) polymerase gamma is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PAPOLG gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riccardo Cortese</span> Italian scientist and entrepreneur

Riccardo Cortese was an Italian scientist, entrepreneur, and innovator in the field of gene expression, drug discovery and genetic vaccines. His work led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and cure of viral infections, including HIV, HCV, Ebola and RSV. He pioneered a novel platform technology based on simian adenoviral vectors for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, and authored more than 300 publications in peer reviewed journals in the field of gene expression, transcriptional control, molecular virology and immunology.

References

  1. Beck, S; Pohl, FM (1984). "DNA sequencing with direct blotting electrophoresis". EMBO J. 3 (12): 2905–9. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1984.tb02230.x. PMC   557787 . PMID   6396083.
  2. Feldmann, H (1994). "Complete DNA sequence of yeast chromosome II". EMBO J. (Submitted manuscript). 13 (24): 5795–809. doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06923.x. PMC   395553 . PMID   7813418.
  3. M. M. Ramirez-Corredores (Editor), Abhijeet P. Borole (Editor), 2007, Biocatalysis in Oil Refining, Volume 164 (Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis), ISBN   978-0444522122
  4. Elbrecht, Vasco; Feld, Christian K.; Gies, Maria; Hering, Daniel; Sondermann, Martin; Tollrian, Ralph; Leese, Florian (2014). "Genetic diversity and dispersal potential of the stonefly Dinocras cephalotes in a central European low mountain range". Freshwater Science. 33: 181–192. doi:10.1086/674536. S2CID   83624246.