Fully automated parallel oligonucleotide synthesizer

Design and construction of automated synthesizers using the tilted plate ce ntrifugation technology is described. Wash solutions and reagents common to all synthesized species are delivered automatically through a 96-channel d istributor connected to a gear pump through two four-port selector valves. Building blocks and other specific reagents are delivered automatically thr ough banks of solenoid valves, positioned over the individual wells of the microtiterplate. These instruments have the following capabilities: Paralle l solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis in the wells of polypropylene micro titer plates, which are slightly tilted down towards the center of rotation , thus generating a pocket in each well, in which the solid support is coll ected during centrifugation, while the liquid is expelled from the wells. E ight microtiterplates are processed simultaneously, providing thus a synthe sizer with a capacity of 768 parallel syntheses. The instruments are capabl e of unattended continuous operation, providing thus a capacity of over two millions 20-mer oligonucleotides in a year.