Biomolecular interaction instrumentation

MicroCal VP-ITC and MicroCal iTC200

The Department has two Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) instruments - the MicroCal VP-ITC and the MicroCal itc200 - each instrument differing in its sample (reactant) volume requirement and sensitivity. By measuring the heat changes associated with binding between two biomolecules, the ITC instrument can be used to determine all thermodynamic parameters (binding constant (KD), reaction stoichiometry (n), enthalpy (∆H) and entropy (ΔS)) in a single label-free, in-solution experiment.

ForteBio Octet QKe instrument

The Octet QKe platform is a real time, label-free detection system for analysing molecular interactions. The detection technology is Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) using fibre optic ‘dip and read’ biosensors and the instrument operates in a convenient 96-well microplate format with most measurements taking less than 60 minutes. The Octet QKe system can be used to provide kinetic data on the affinity (KD, koff and kon rate constants) and specificity (simple YES/NO binding screens) of molecular interactions.

Applied Photophysics Chirascan CD

Applied Photophysics Chirascan CD is a modern, high performance circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer operating in the ultraviolet and visible wavelength range. It is typically used to probe the secondary structure or conformation of biomolecules.