BIOPHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION FACILITY – IC TRIESTE

The biophysical characterization laboratory is one of the facilities used by the structural biology group in Trieste. The facility is used for functional studies on proteins, which are then correlated with the results of the structural analysis. The instrumentation and techniques available in this laboratory may be of help in the understanding of the macromolecular structure in solution, at the secondary structure level (CD) and also on their association state in solution (DLS). The effects on the protein stability of selected biochemical parameters (buffer,ligands) as well as those of point mutations, may be evaluated in semi-quantitative way by using the Thermofluor method. Enzyme kinetics can be studied by UV-VIS spectroscopy in order to assess the reaction mechanism but also the effect of specific mutation (or inhibitors) on the reaction rate. A complete thermodynamic profiling of the protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions can be achieved by ITC, which can be of special interest for ligands of pharmacological relevance. The facility is also largely used for preliminary analysis prior to crystallization screening as well as for the optimization of the crystallization conditions (DLS, Thermofluor)

SDouble beam UV-Vis Spectrophotometer GE Ultrospec 7000

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Protein Solution DynaPro

Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC): MicroCal ITC200

Avilable at the Elettra- sincrotrone Trieste Structural Biology Laboratory: RT-PCR (Thermofluor) Spectropolarimeter Jasco J-810 (circular dichroism)

Name and Surname: SONIA COVACEUSZACH

Sede: S.S. 14, Km 163,5 Basovizza – Trieste

Tel: +39 040 3757526

Mail : sonia.covaceuszachATts.ic.cnr.it

(None at the Moment)