The Odyssey^® Infrared Imaging System sweeps away the old paradigms of chemiluminescence and visible fluorescence...

and introduces a new standard for Western blot analysis –
direct infrared fluorescence detection.

Infrared detection gives you the quantitative analysis and wide linear dynamic range that chemiluminescence can’t. Strong and weak bands are accurately detected on the same blot without the uncertainty and inconvenience of multiple exposures or time in the darkroom.

Multiple applications are optimized for the Odyssey System.

Infrared Detection vs. Chemiluminescence Cost Comparision

Overview & Advantages

• Wide Linear Range

  Using fluorescently labeled antibodies rather than an enzymatic reaction, the Odyssey Imager offers a broad linear dynamic range to accurately detect strong and weak signals on the same Western blot.

• Two-Color Detection and Quantification

  Simultaneous detection of two targets on the same membrane increases the accuracy of quantification and comparison.


[LEFT] ERK1/2 and phospho-ERK were detected simultaneously in lysates of unstimulated and EGF-stimulated A431 cells. Two fold serial dilutions of lysate were loaded. Psuedo-color images can be overlaid (yellow indicates overlap of red and green). The mobility shift caused by phosphorylation can be seen in the EGF-stimulated lysate.


[ABOVE] Two-fold serial dilutions of Alexa^® 680-labeled antibody (6 ng to 0.19 pg) were spotted on nitrocellulose and imaged in the 700 nm channel.



• High Sensitivity

  Near-infrared fluorescence provides equal or better sensitivity than chemiluminescence – giving you low background, high signal-to-noise, multiplexed detection, and the sensitivity of any fluorescent system.

  The Infrared Advantage

  Most fluorescent imaging systems use visible fluorescence.

  • Membranes and plastics can produce high background in the visible region, due to autofluorescence and light scatter.

  • This limits the sensitivity of visible fluorescence and makes it nearly impossible to detect low-abundance proteins.

  • The Odyssey uses near-infrared fluorescence, dramatically reducing autofluorescence and light scatter.

  

  LI-COR Biosciences is the clear leader in fluorescent Western blot detection and near-infrared imaging, offering:

  • Unique family of IRDye® Infrared Dyes with reactive functionalities for easy coupling to antibodies and other biomolecules.

  • Wide selection of IRDye secondary antibodies, blocking buffers, and blotting membranes for fluorescent Western blot detection.

  • Compatibility of the Odyssey Imager with many other fluorescent reagents.

• Direct Detection

  With Odyssey system, there is no film, darkroom, plastic wrap, or substrates. IRDye signals on membranes are stable indefinitely if stored properly.

• Flexible System with Many Applications

  The Odyssey system has been used for many applications, including Western blot analysis, EMSA, protein arrays, In-Cell Western™ Assays, On-Cell Westerns, in vivo imaging, Coomassie gel documentation, DNA gel documentation and tissue section analysis. 

  Odyssey data have been widely published in the literature, in journals such as Science, Nature, PNAS, Journal of Cell Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Cancer Research, PLos ONE, and many others.

Applications for the Odyssey

A wide-range of applications benefit from near-infrared detection on the Odyssey System

Our applications profies are designed to provide you with examples, support information, recent publications, and available on-line subject specific webinars.

Coomassie Gels DNA Gel Staining ELISA/FLISA EMSA/Gel Shift Assay Glycoprotein Detection In-Cell Western™ Assay In-Gel Western Assay Northern Blot On-Cell Western Assay Protease Assay

Protein Array Quantitative Western Blot Reporter Gene Assay Reverse Phase (Lysate) Array RNAi Screens Small Animal Imaging Southern Blot Tissue Section Imaging Transcription Factor Assay

Accessories for the Odyssey

• Odyssey MousePOD in vivo Imaging Accessory

• Blot Washer

• MPX™ (Multiplexer) Blotting System

• Western Incubation Boxes

• Protein Array Analysis

• NucleoCounter^® NC-100^™ for Automated Cell Counting

Brochures and Papers

• Odyssey^® Infrared Imaging System

• In-Cell Western™

• Quantitative, Two-Color Western Blot Detection With Infrared Fluorescence (White paper)

• IR vs. Chemi Cost Comparison Worksheet

• Molecular Imaging on the Odyssey Imager and MousePOD^®

Webinars

• POWER USER Guide
  Tutorials for optimizing your work on the Odyssey

• Odyssey Infrared Imaging System from LI-COR Biosciences
  - Sally Weldon

• Quantitative, Multiplexed Western Blot Detection with Infrared Fluorescence
  - Amy Geschwender, PhD

• Chemi IR™ Detection of Western Blots on the Odyssey Infrared Imager
  - Shawn Mischnick

[+] More Webinars

Publishing with LI-COR data?

Odyssey® Publications, 6-2009 – 9/2009

Featured Publications from the Scientific Literature

• Markovic, D et al.
  Intracellular mechanisms regulating corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor-2beta endocytosis and interaction with extracellularly regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascades.
  Mol Endocrinol. 22(3): 689-706 (2008)

• Ramsay, AJ et al.
  Kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) initiates intracellular signaling via protease-activated receptors (PARs). KLK4 and PAR-2 are co-expressed during prostate cancer progression.
  J Biol Chem. 283(18): 12293-304 (2008)

• Wang, YV et al.
  Quantitative analyses reveal the importance of regulated Hdmx degradation for p53 activation.
  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 104(30): 12365-70 (2007)

• Wishart, TM et al.
  Differential proteomics analysis of synaptic proteins identifies potential cellular targets and protein mediators of synaptic neuroprotection conferred by the slow Wallerian degeneration (Wlds) gene.
  Mol Cell Proteomics. 6(8): 1318-30 (2007)

OdysseySpecifications

Laser/Microscope

• Laser Lifetime: 40,000 hours typical

• 700 Channel Laser Source: Solid-state diode laser at 680 nm

• 800 Channel Laser Source: Solid-state diode laser at 780 nm

• Detectors: Silicon avalanche photodiodes

• Scanning Speed: 5 - 40 cm/S

• Resolution:21 - 337 µm

• Focusing: Scan bed is movable in the Z-dimension, allowing the fluorescence detection microscope to be aligned to the top surface of the glass to obtain the best signal-to-noise ratio

Operation Specifications

• Operating Conditions: 15-35° C and dew point no greater than 20° C

• Power Requirements: Automatic voltage selection at 90-250 VAC and 47-63 Hz; 1.1 Amps at 120 V; 200 watts maximum

• Dimensions: 37 h x 53 w 58 d cm (14.5 x 21 x 23 inches)

• Weight: 33 kg (72 lbs)

• Data Storage Capacity: 5 GB

• Network Protocol: TCP/IP

• Network Connection: Cat. 5 RJ-45, 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX

• Security: Password protected access