Instrumentation


In addition to a dedicated autoclave that is readily available for contained biohazard waste processing, the laboratory is equipped with freezers (-20C and -80C), a refrigerator, multi-modal BioTek Synergy Neo 2 plate reader, incubator shaker, cell growth incubator, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and a MicroCal PEAQ-ITC.

Key Instruments

Autoclave (10sq ft ) for contained biohazard waste processing.

Autoclave

Biosafety Cabinet

Biosafety Cabinet with scale in it

Eppendorf Centrifuge

From Left to right: a -80 freezer, a -20C freezer, and a second -20C freezer

-80C Freezer and -20C Freezer side by side  -20C Freezer

Series II Water Jacket C02 incubator

Incubator Shaker

BioTek Synergy Neo 2 Plate Reader

MicroCal PEAQ-ITC

The MicroCal PEAQ-ITC is a highly sensitive, low volume isothermal titration calorimeter.

Malvern Panalytical

Applications

  1. Characterize interactions between proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, drugs and inhibitors.
  2. Stoichiometry & thermodynamic parameters.
  3. Correlate binding and activity.
  4. Structure-activity relationships.
  5. Hit validation, lead optimization, mechanism of action

Sample guidelines

  • Both the cell and syringe samples should be in identical buffers. 
  • Required volumes per measurement: 280ul of sample for the cell and 80ul of sample for the syringe.

Suggested concentrations

In the cell - at least 10x -20X the expected Kd, 350 ul per run, 280 ul will be injected.

In the syringe (ligand) - 10x above cell sample concentration, 80 ul/run

For example, for a 1 uM Kd a good titration will be -  20uM cell sample (350ul) and 200uM ligand (80 ul), any other higher concentrations with ratio 1:10 will work too.

All users will bring ultrapure methanol (~80 ml/all day run) and Pipet/tips/tubes for 80 ul ligand dispensing. HTS staff will train students/postdocs on ITC usage and enable access to the lab for the duration of the experiment. The users will sign into the log book and will also follow/log rinse and clean protocols during the experiment and at the end of the day. All issues encountered during the ITC runs will be entered into the log book. 

The Blue®Washer uses contact-free centrifugation technology to remove liquids from 96, 384 and 1536 microwell plates without disposable tips. This environmentally friendly technology allows you to handle cellular, bead based, genomic, and ELISA assays contamination free with no residual volume, eliminating background and variability in assay data.