Protein Purification, Characterization and Assay Development

The Biopolymer/Genomics Facility has numerous protein-related processes that are available to investigators. These services are supported by a wide range of instrumentation including preparative HPLCs, analytical HPLCs with autosamplers, capillary electrophoresis systems with UV, diode array and laser detectors and a Ciphergen SELDI Protein Chip system. Services include custom macromolecular purification by reversed phase-, ion exchange-, or size exclusion-chromatography. Characterization of molecule is supported by the same chromatography methods in addition to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and capillary electorphoresis (free solution, MECC and iso-electric focusing). Binding studies can be performed using SELDI methodologies or by solution-based capillary electrophoresis methods. Other SELDI methodologies employed include protein/peptide profiling, immunoassays, and biomarker discovery.

The facility can also provide quantitative or qualitative assays by HPLC or capillary electrophoresis such as time-dependent stability studies, concentration determination of bioactive compounds from cell lysates or other complex mixtures, and determination of DNA or RNA purity.