Biophysics team
The Biophysics team supports CPR researchers in the use of sophisticated instrumentation and in the design of biophysical experiments. The experiments are used for the quantitative characterization of biomolecules and their interactions. The platform houses state of the art biophysical instrumentation for this purpose.
Biophysics uses biophysical instrumentation to characterize macromolecules in solution and study molecular interactions. The platform uses mass spectrometry for protein identification and small molecule identification and quantification and performs quality control of recombinant proteins for optimized data quality in downstream applications.
The platform ensures proper instrument function with routine maintenance and checks for high standards of performance.
As an active member of the ARBRE-MOBIEU EU network, a cluster of biophysics facilities across Europe, the platform contributes to improving information exchange, development and evaluation of new technologies.
- State of the art instrumentation UV-VIS spectrophotometer: Protein/nucleic acid quantification. Enzyme kinetics.
- Circular Dichroism (CD): Information about secondary structure and protein stability.
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FS): Binding studies.
- Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF): Thermal stability of globular proteins. Protein quality controls (optimal buffers for downstream applications, storage conditions).
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS): Sizes and distributions of biomolecules in solution.
- Size Exclusion Chromatography coupled to Multi-Angle Light Scattering (SEC-MALS): Absolute molar mass determination.
- MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST): Measurement of binding interactions.
- Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC): Thermodynamic technique to study different binding events.
- Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR): Measurement of biomolecular interactions in real time. Provides kinetic information (kon and koff rates). Screening of low molecular weight analytes.
- Mass spectrometer (ESI-TOF MS).: Protein identification. Small molecule identification and quantification.
The platform participates in PhD courses (e.g. PhD course on protein purification). Furthermore, seminars are often held by instrument manufacturers and biophysical experts on new techniques and/or finding new ways of using the instrumentation.
The Biophysics Platform provides access to external users through the Integrative Structural Biology Cluster (ISBUC) at the University of Copenhagen.