Experimental facilities
The School of Biosciences features a range of first-rate instrumentation for structural biology which are available through the Biosciences Biomolecular Characterisation Facility. A complete list of experimental facilties in structural biology is posted on the website of the Structural Biology CRN
X-ray diffraction
In-house x-ray diffraction data are recorded on a CCD detector (Saturn 944) mounted on a rotating anode generator (Rigaku MicroMax 007 HF) with Osmic VariMax optics.
Crystallisation robotics
A TTP Labtech Mosquito liquid dispenser is used for setting up crystallisation trials, using drop volumes down to 50 nano-l. The robot is set up in a controlled-temperature lab used exclusively for crystallogenesis.
Analytical Ultracentrifugation
Analytical ultracentrifugation remains the gold standard for determination of assembly state of macromolecules in solution. The School has Beckman Coulter XL-A with both absorbance and interference optics.
Dynamic Light Scattering
Allows to probe the tendency of macromolecules to form aggregates that may be detrimental to crystallisation.
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry
Binding events between proteins, protein and DNA, and other small ligands is what makes a living organism tick. ITC allows to measure interactions thermodynamically, providing a full pictures of the energetics of binding.
