A dual DLS and SEC-MALS instrumentation to characterize protein oligomerization for structural and mechanistic biology

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The physical characterization of proteins is critical for the fundamental understanding of biological processes, as well as for new drug development. In particular, the capacity to determine if proteins naturally assemble, interact with partners (other proteins, nucleic acids, lipids etc.), or is modified by other molecules such as lipids, sugars, etc.., is essential to decipher their function.We seek to acquire a device that exploits how solutions that contain proteins affect laser light, to precisely and accurately determine the "size" (molecular weight) of a protein. This is an essential information to elucidate its mechanism of action, how it interacts with other molecules, etc. In addition, this equipment allows to monitor how proteins stick to each other ("aggregate"), which can happen for their natural function, for example in proteins that forms filaments across the cell to deliver cargo (for example, actin or tubulin), but also can be a sign of pathology (amyloids). In particular, we will use this equipment extensively in our research efforts to understand proteins involved in bacterial virulence and antibiotic resistance, viral pathogenesis (including SARS-CoV-2), cancer and tumor pathogenesis, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.