{"id":88,"date":"2017-04-19T15:53:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-19T20:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/csb\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2025-07-15T14:37:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:37:33","slug":"biophysical-instrumentation-facility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vanderbilt.edu\/csb\/facilities\/labs-instrumentation-facility\/biophysical-instrumentation-facility\/","title":{"rendered":"Biophysical Instrumentation Facility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Find us in iLab<\/h3>\n

The Biophysical Instrumentation Facility and the Megalab Core have been combined to form the new Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology Labs and Instrumentation Facility<\/em><\/strong> in iLab. The Biomolecular Crystallography Facility was added in November 2024.<\/p>\n

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The CSB maintains a variety of instruments for studying the conformation and stability of macromolecules and for measuring the affinity and thermodynamics of biomolecular interactions. To set up core access and training, contact Noah Saracho<\/a>. If you have additional questions or would like to set up a consultation, contact Heather Kroh<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Octet R8 Bio-layer Interferometer:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • Sartorius Octet R8<\/li>\n
  • High-quality quantitative, kinetic, or affinity characterization of biomolecules<\/li>\n
  • Can run up to 96 samples in a single experiment<\/li>\n
  • Installed in January 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mass Photometer:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • Reyfeyn TwoMP Mass Photometer<\/li>\n
  • Measure molecular mass of proteins &
    \nprotein assemblies in solution in their native state<\/li>\n
  • Quick and accurate mass determination with minimal sample requirements (<20 \u00b5L, low nanomolar concentrations)<\/li>\n
  • Installed in January 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stopped-Flow Spectrometer:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • Kintek SF300X Stopped-flow Spectrometer<\/li>\n
  • Measures changes in absorbance and\/or fluorescence signals for kinetic and equilibrium titration experiments<\/li>\n
  • Minimal first reaction time of 5 millisecond, with a sub-millisecond dead time<\/li>\n
  • Computer-controlled servo motor (not air-driven)<\/li>\n
  • Capacity for single- and double-mixing experiments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Microscale thermophoresis:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>
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Tycho Sample Quality Check:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • Nanotemper Tycho NT.6<\/li>\n
  • Verify protein quality, stability and reproducibility, with minimal volume needed (10 \u00b5L)<\/li>\n
  • Measures intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan and tyrosine residues<\/li>\n
  • Can detect impurities, compare concentrations, and screen storage conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Differential Scanning Calorimeter:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\"DSC\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dynamic Light Scattering:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\"DLS\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isothermal Titration Calorimeter:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
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  • TA Instruments Affinity ITC<\/li>\n
  • Installed in February 2020<\/li>\n
  • Injection Syringe Volume up to 250 \u00b5L<\/li>\n
  • Active cell volume of 1.0 mL<\/li>\n
  • Operating Temperature Range from 2 \u00b0C to 80 \u00b0C<\/li>\n
  • Fully automated Injection Syringe Cleaning<\/li>\n
  • ITC Notes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Information for Users:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n