About Us

Facilities

Center for Biomolecular Analysis

The Center for Biomolecular Analysis is comprised of a number of analytical instruments to facilitate both routine and specialized analysis of biomolecules from research efforts. A user fee schedule has been established to maintain a majority of the equipment under service contract. If you will use the instrumentation in the facility you will be responsible for paying user fees. If you are a new user, please obtain assistance from a trained operator prior to using any of the shared use facility equipment. Below is a brief description of equipment housed in the facility which is located in 206 Althouse lab.

TYPHOON

Molecular Dynamics model 8600

The Typhoon is a versatile multimode scanner used to obtain digital images from blots, gels and screens. It is capable of performing three basic types of analysis, filmless autoradiography, fluorescence and chemiluminescent scanning.

Storage phosphor screen autoradiography is basically a two step process. The first step is to expose an erased screen to a radioactively labeled sample using an exposure cassette or screen. An “imprint” of the sample is created on the screen from the radiation energy that is subsequently trapped in the crystal lattice of the screen. The Typhoon is then used to scan the exposed screen and generate a digital image which has been captured on the screen. Although the typhoon is capable of using the older style hard backed screens users are encouraged to purchase the new screens. Never allow your sample to directly touch the screen itself by placing a layer of saran wrap between your sample and the screen. Failure to protect the screens in this fashion will lead to contamination of the screens and ultimately shorten their useful lifetimes.

Fluorescence scanning is accomplished by placing a wet gel that has been stained with a fluorescent compound or a gel which contains a fluorescently labeled sample onto the machine and scanned directly.

Chemiluminescence analysis can also be accomplished using a blot or wet gel that is contained within a protective barrier.

Each of the three types of analysis can be performed through manipulation of the scanner control software which is located on the computer connected to the instrument.

Densitometer

Molecular Dynamics Personal Densitometer-

Densitometric analysis of non fluorescently stained PAGE gels and autoradiographs can be accomplished using the personal densitometer.

Eagle Eye

Stratagene EagleEye. - This instrument is particularly useful for d irect imaging of nucleic acid or protein gels stained with ethidium bromide, Coomassie® Blue, SYBR® Green or silver stains. Other uses include Digital imaging of autoradiographs , Imaging and analyzing chemiluminescent samples and Colony and plaque counting

Biacore 2000

Surface Plasmon Resonance is the phenomenon from which the analysis on this instrument is based. Molecules are functionalized onto the surface of gold plated chips and molecules believed to interact with those on the surface of the chip are passed over the chip in liquid phase and perturbations in the response are monitored and converted into association/dissociation values for the molecular pairs.

Beckman Optima XL-I

Analytical Ultracentrifugation. This instrument is also used to quantify molecular interactions utilizing sedimentation and equilibrium centrifugation studies.