The Bullet Blender™ and Bullet Blender™ Blue enable you to disrupt or homogenize up to 24 drosophila samples (in 24 microcentrifuge tubes) and other tissue/cell samples at a time.  Load the samples in standard polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes into the Bullet Blender™.  Balls (the "bullets") repeatedly strike the sample tubes in a controlled manner, thousands of times per minutes, inducing vigorous motion of the small organisms or other substances inside the tubes, providing efficient mixing. With beads in the tubes, the samples are thoroughly homogenized. Tune the extent of disruption by adjusting the speed. Click here to see sample protocols.

Ponceau-stained protein gels of samples from Drosophila epidermal tissue. 35 mg of larval Drosophila epidermal tissue was homogenized with a pestle (a) or a Bullet Blender Blue (b). Tissue was pelleted, 30 mL of 2x Laemmli buffer was added, and 1/3 scoop of 0.5 mm zirconium silicate beads was added. Samples processed in the Bullet Blender were homogenized for 2 minutes at speed 8. Protein extraction is increased dramatically when the samples are homogenized using a Bullet Blender. Data courtesy of Laura Stevens at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

> No Cross Contamination

The samples are homogenized (or mixed) non-invasively.  The sample tubes are kept closed during agitation, as the samples are processed.  There are no probes to clean between samples.

> Samples Stay Cool

The instrument uses very little power due to the unique, patented design.  It uses a small DC motor to agitate the individual tubes, not ultrasonics.   Also, because the motor does not need to agitate any heavy platforms or plates, it is small and will last for years.

> Convenient to Use

Simply place your flies and other small organisms, tissue samples, or cell cultures and some beads in standard high quality polypropylene tubes, and load the tubes into the Bullet Blender™.   Set the duration (typically a few minutes) and speed (vigorousness).  There are no probes to clean.  And it is quieter than a sonicator and does not heat up your samples more than a few degrees!

> Risk Free Purchase

The Bullet Blender™ comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and a two year warranty, with a three year warranty on the motor.  The simple, reliable design enables the Bullet Blenders™ to sell for a fraction  of the price of ultrasonic or other agitation based instruments, yet provides an easier, quicker technique.

Potential Applications

• homogenization
• embryos
• larvae
• adult files
• dissected portions of fly tissue
  
• chorion removal / dechorionation
  
• vitelline membrane permeabilization
  

The Bullet Blender™ home page shows the entire family of products and links to other applications.

Protocol for D. melanogaster Adults Homogenization in the Bullet Blender™

The protocol described in this document is for the use of the Bullet Blender™ for the homogenization of Drosophila melanogaster adults. This protocol does not specify a particular buffer - you may choose which is most appropriate for your downstream application (nucleic acid isolation, protein extraction, etc.).

Materials Required:

adult Drosophila, Bullet Blender™, homogenization buffer, pipettor, microcentrifuge tubes, and Zirconium Oxide beads (0.5mm or 1.0mm) or Zirconium Silicate beads (0.5mm).

Instructions:

1. Place 10-300mg of flies into microcentrifuge tubes.
2. Add an 1.5x to 2x the mass of sample in beads (0.5mm or 1.0mm zirconium oxide, or 0.5mm zirconium silicate) to each tube. One scoop of zirconium oxide beads ≈ 180mg. One scoop of zirconium silicate beads ≈ 110mg.
3. Add 2 volumes of buffer for every mass of flies (for example, with 100mg of flies use 200ml of buffer).
4. Close the microcentrifuge tubes.
5. Place tubes into the Bullet Blender™.
6. Set controls for SPEED 8 and TIME 3 minutes.
7. Remove tubes from the instrument.
8. Visually inspect samples, if homogenization is unsatisfactory, run for another two minutes at the SPEED 10.
9. Proceed with your downstream application.

SAFETY NOTE!!!

When using a centrifuge to separate your homogenate from the debris and beads, make sure your tubes are balanced.

Typical Results

Protocol for D. melanogaster Larvae Homogenization in the Bullet Blender™

The protocol described in this document is for the use of the Bullet Blender™ for the homogenization of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. This protocol does not specify a particular buffer - you may choose which is most appropriate for your downstream application (nucleic acid isolation, protein extraction, etc.).

Materials Required:

Drosophila larvae, Bullet Blender™, homogenization buffer, pipettor, microcentrifuge tubes, and 0.5mm glass beads (part number GB05).

Instructions:

1. If you have not already, wash Drosophila larvae 3x with 1ml PBS or other buffer, as appropriate, to remove food, surface bacteria, and other contaminants.
2. Aspirate the larvae, or remove as much liquid as possible with a pipette.
3. Place 10-300mg of larvae into microcentrifuge tubes.
4. Add an equal mass of 0.5mm glass beads to the tube. One scoop ≈ 77mg.
5. Add 2 volumes of buffer for every mass of larvae (for example, with 100mg of larvae, use 200ml of buffer).
6. Close the microcentrifuge tubes.
7. Place tubes into the Bullet Blender™.
8. Set controls for SPEED 8 and TIME 3 minutes.
9. Remove tubes from the instrument.
10. Visually inspect samples, if homogenization is unsatisfactory, run for another two minutes at the SPEED 10.
11. Proceed with your downstream application.

SAFETY NOTE!!!

When using a centrifuge to separate your homogenate from the debris and beads, make sure your tubes are balanced.

Typical Results