Data Collection Services
The CMI is now offering limited data collection services, as staff time allows.
Services to measure molecular properties and protein quality, include:
Light Scattering Services. SEC-MALS to measure protein mass in solution and DLS to measure hydrodynamic radius and heterogeneity.
Differential Scanning Fluorimetry. Conventional DSF (using Sypro Orange) or NanoDSF (using intrinsitic protein fluorescence) to measure thermal or chemical stability.
Circular Dichroism. Far-UV CD measurements to assess protein secondary structure or thermal stability.
Protein Purification. Size-Exclusion Chromatography for protein purification of affinity purified user samples.
Data Collection Services
Data Collection Services
The CMI offers data collection services for assessing protein quality and sample biophysical properties. To start a conversation about a data collection services project, please contact the CMI or send a Sample Form to cmi@hms.harvard.edu.
Required Service Forms:
- Sample Form, for gathering sample details to aid in data collection. You may exclude proprietary information in your preliminary form (we'll let you know if essential information is missing).
- Academic Services Agreement, for EXTERNAL academic data collection service users
- OR Industry Services Agreement, for industry data collection service users
Data Collection Services Estimated Timeline
Phase 1
External User submits preliminary Sample Form and a CMI Service Agreement (make sure to select the correct agreement form).
Internal User submits a project request in PPMS with a Sample Form. New internal users may start with a sample form or start by requesting a CMI account.
> CMI reviews request and sends service estimate (usually within 1 week of inquiry.)
Phase 2
User provides PO and finalizes Sample Form. CMI User Agreement must be in place at this time.
> CMI contacts user to coordinate a date/time for sample delivery or drop off. Our goal is to schedule data collection within 1-2 weeks of receipt of PO and service agreement, depending on instrument/staff availability.
Phase 3
> CMI provides user with a report of results and a link to all data files, within 1 week of data collection.
Phase 4
> An invoice from Harvard Accounts Receivable will be sent in the month following data collection.
Data Collection Fees Summary
Data Collection
- Limited Data Collection Services are offered.
- Service fees are based on labor and supplies costs, and will be charged for all completed services, regardless of experimental outcome.
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Before submitting samples for data collection, users must approve the estimated charges and be given a date and time for sample delivery.
- External Users will also be required to submit a PO and a signed CMI User Agreement.
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Most CMI Data Collection Services include a setup fee plus a per-sample data collection fee.
- Some services include replicate measurements by default in the per-sample fee. For others, there is a reduced-price replicate measurement fee, if collected in the same dataset.
- Nanobody services not available to commercial users at this time.
- Current Harvard Life Lab commercial users are offered a 25% discount off the standard commercial rates.
Data Collection Material Requirements
| Method | Notes | Buffer Notes |
minimum volume |
recommended minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass Photometry | per sample, triplicate | in storage buffer | 50 |
Protein: ~200 nM |
| SEC-MALS | per injection | in storage buffer | 150 | mg ~ 10/mass(KDa)* |
| DLS | per sample, duplicates | in storage buffer | 150 | mg ~ 10/mass(KDa)* |
| CD | per sample | in final buffer | 300 | ~ 0.1 mg/ml |
| NanoDSF | per sample, duplicates | in final buffer | 50 |
~ 0.2 mg/ml Standard Capillaries |
| NanoDSF | buffer screen, 96 conditions | in storage buffer | 200 | ~ 2 mg/ml |
| DSF, sypro | per sample, triplicates | in storage buffer | 50 | ~ 0.5 mg/ml |
| DSF, sypro | buffer screen, 96 conditions | in storage buffer | 200 | ~ 2 mg/ml |
| Nanobody Selection | per antigen, standard selection | 1 ml | ~ 15 μM |
* Light Scattering Intensity is proportional to mass. A higher concentration (in mg/ml) of protein is required for small proteins than for large proteins. BSA, which is 67 KDa, and typically very pure, will typically give an excellent signal in MALS and DSL experiments at 2 mg/ml, and an acceptable signal at 0.2 mg/ml. For a protein that is 1/2 the mass, plan use a concentration in the 0.4-4 mg/ml range.