Technologies

CMI instruments

Molecular Properties
instrument illustration

Molecular Interactions
Protein Production

Protein Production

The CMI is home to shared instruments for the biophysical characterization of macromolecules and their interactions.  These instruments can be used to measure protein properties such as thermal stability, secondary structure and oligomeric state, and provide several orthogonal technologies to measure binding kinetics and equilibrium of protein/protein, protein/ligand and protein/small molecule interactions. The CMI also has tools for protein production, including preparative chromatography, cell-free protein synthesis, and yeast display nanobody selections.

  • Interested new users may contact the CMI to request an account or a preliminary meeting.
  • Active CMI users should submit a training or consultation request in the PPMS booking system.

Molecular Properties

Light Scattering

The Wyatt DynaPro Plate Reader III for Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measures hydrodynamic radius. The Wyatt/Agilent SEC-MALS system and Refeyn TwoMP Mass Photometry instrument measure Static Light Scattering (SLS) to determine molar mass.

Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF)

The Prometheus NT.plex from NanoTemper and the QuantStudio from Life Technologies detect Differential Scanning Fluorimetry, used to measure protein thermal stability.

Circular Dichroism (CD)

The Jasco J-1500 measures Circular Dichroism and can be used to measure protein secondary structure and thermal stability.

Molecular Interactions

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)

The Biacore T200 from Cytiva, detects Surface Plasmon Resonance, an optical technique used to measure binding kinetics and binding equilibrium.

MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST)

The Monolith NT.115pico from NanoTemper detects MicroScale Thermophoresis, movement in a temperature gradient, used to measure binding equilibrium.

Biolayer Interferometry (BLI)

The Octet RED384 and BLItz instruments from Sartorius detect Biolayer Interferometry, an optical technique used to measure binding kinetics and binding equilibrium.

Protein Production

Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

The eProtein Discovery system from Nuclera is a platform for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS), or in vitro transcription/translation, and enables rapid protein prototyping on a digital microfluidic chip. 

Nanobody Services

The CMI offers yeast surface display nanobody selection services to academic users, using user-provided antigen. 

See also:

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