Protein Requirements for CMI Services

CMI guidelines for protein concentration and amount for different CMI services.  We recommend that users provide a concentration higher than the minimum recommended.

MethodNotesBuffer Notesminimum volume
(μl)
recommended minimum
concentration 
Mass Photometry
per sample, triplicate
in storage buffer
50
Protein: ~200 nM
(diluted to 10-20 nM)
AAV: >1012 capsid/ml
SEC-MALS
per injection
in storage buffer
150
mg/ml > 10/mass(KDa)*
mg/ml ~100/mass(KDa), preferred
DLS
per sample, duplicates
in storage buffer
150
mg/ml > 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
~ 0.05 mg/ml High Sensitivity 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 protein antigen, standard selection (4 rounds)
antigen buffer needs to be free of primary amines for chemical biotinylation
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 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.

For information on access fees, policies and getting started at the CMI, see the CMI Access Page.