Protein analysis laboratory
Head of the laboratory: Research at the Protein Analysis Laboratory is focused on purification and characterization of proteins and peptides mainly by using different micro-methods. This work is connected to many research projects at the Institute as well as academic and industrial laboratories outside. Method development, adaptation and validation play important roles in the activities of the laboratory because most of the performed micro-analyses relay on the ability to handle nanogram quantities of proteins and peptides with reasonable yields and without chemical modifications, such as e.g. N-terminal blocking. The laboratory has recently also been involved in purification of some recombinant and natural proteins for X-ray crystallographic studies for which scale-up of the existing analytical scale has been necessary. The laboratory is well equipped concerning conventional chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrophoretic techniques and protein and peptide sequencing. All HPLC purification parameters are available on laboratory's nine HPLC systems, of which most are suitable also for narrow- and microbore purifications. Recently, the Institute has been able to add a Pharmacia Smart micro-chromatography system to the instrumentation. This instrument is specifically designed for microbore chromatography of biomolecules with multiwavelength monitoring, automated peak fractionation and advanced data collection and handling. In the year 1994 the Institute purchased a second protein sequencer (Applied Biosystem Procise) which was installed in August. The institute has also made a decision to order a MALDI - TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption ionization - time of flight) mass spectrometer. This new technique will facilitate exact mass determinations of proteins, peptides and other biomolecules.
SRC="http://www.helsinki.fi/biotek/backbutt.gif" align=bottom border=0> Research at the Institute of Biotechnology
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