Facilities Information for Grant Proposals

The Biophysical Characterization Facility, within the Institute for Applied Life Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is a suite of state-of-the-art instrumentation that supports studies of macromolecular interactions by researchers from within the UMass system, other academic institutions, and industrial partners. The Facility was made possible through investments made by the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC).

Capabilities of the Facility are: measuring binding/complex stoichiometry, kinetic, and thermodynamic molecular interactions using isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, and microscale thermophoresis; crystallography; absolute molar mass, hydrodynamic diameter, conformation, and zeta potential by static and dynamic light scattering; secondary structure by CD, fluorescence; and imaging/quantitation of gels and blots.

Current instrumentation in the Facility includes:

Molecular interactions

Biotek Synergy 2 plate reader

Malvern AutoiTC200

GE Biacore T200

Nanotemper microscale thermophoresis

Crystallization

Formulatrix Formulator

Formulatrix NT8 Drop Setter

Formulatrix Rock Imager

Rigaku XtaLAB MM-007 x-ray diffractometer

Rigaku BioSAXS 2000

Structure/physical characterization

Jasco J-1500 CD

Beckman Coulter ProteomeLab XL-I analytical ultracentrifuge

Wyatt Technologies SEC-MALS

Malvern Zetasizer ZSP

Imaging

LICOR Odyssey CLx

GE Typhoon 9500 phosphoimager

Instrumentation is available to all members of the UMass community, the Five College Consortium, other academic institutions, and industrial partners. Operation is through a recharge basis, which recoups some of the operational and maintenance costs from users. Current usage rates are available here. A staff of highly trained experts is available to assist with instrument operation, training, as well as assistance and advice at all stages of experimental design and execution.