A Biacore T200 for Molecular Interaction Studies at the University of Miami

描述（由申请人提供）：迈阿密大学米勒医学院的六个基础研究部门开展广泛的基础科学研究，并具有很强的转化成分。像综合癌症中心这样的跨部门结构（它为拟议的SPR设备的维护做出了贡献）促进了基础研究人员与临床研究小组之间的互动。在这个联合研究小组中（包括来自邻近的佛罗里达斯克里普斯研究所的一名用户），强烈需要使用小样本进行高灵敏度和无标签分子相互作用研究的模式。在过去十年中，表面等离子体共振已成为这类应用的主要分析方法，特别是近年来其灵敏度的提高（现在包括小分子分析物的无标签结合研究）以及多重和自动化测量的能力。这使得广泛的研究能够以最小的样本量有效地进行。我们对SPR能力的高要求与UM数百英里半径内没有任何此类开放访问设备形成鲜明对比。SPR能力的缺失迫使研究人员至多只能依赖不那么敏感和信息较少的方法。在某些情况下，这种新型小分子先导化合物的无标签结合，没有其他选择。在其他情况下（抗体优化），外包是目前唯一的选择

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The six basic research departments at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine carry out a broad range of basic science studies with strong translational components. Interdepartmental structures like the Comprehensive Cancer Center (which contributes to the maintenance of the proposed SPR equipment) foster interactions between basic researchers and with clinical research groups. Among this combined group of researchers (including one user from the neighboring Florida Scripps Institute), a strong need exists for modalities that allow highly sensitive and label free molecular interaction studies with small sample volumes. Surface Plasmon Resonance has become a major, if not the dominant, method of analysis for this type of applications in the last decade, especially with its increase in sensitivity in recent years (which now includes the label free binding studies of small molecule analytes) and the ability to multiplex and automate measurements. This allows for a broad range of studies to be carried out efficiently and with minimal sample volumes. Our high demand for SPR capability is in stark contrast to the absence of any such equipment with open access within a several hundred mile radius of UM. The absence of SPR capability forces researchers to rely on less sensitive and less informative methods at best. In some cases, such label free binding of novel, small molecule lead compounds, no other options are available. In yet other cases (antibody optimization) outsourcing is currently the only option The proposed purchase of a Biacore T200 would establish much needed SPR capability on the UM campus. The instrument will be housed in a supervised instrumentation facility will be maintained through institutional support. Featured applications include the characterization and optimization of therapeutically used antibodies, the evaluation of existing or de novo synthesized small molecular weight drugs, the detailed comparison of thermodynamic binding properties between ITC and SPR as alternative methods, the assembly of multi protein complexes on DNA, the characterization of SELEX derived nucleic acid aptamers to target proteins, and the detection of analyte concentrations in serum samples, and several projects emphasizing the strength of SPR in the study of weak interactions All applications fall within the capability range of a Biacore T200, and availability of SPR is certain to enhance progress on existing and future NIH-funded research. Public Health Relevance: Access to Surface Plasmon Resonance will accelerate existing and open up new research applications across the medical campus of UM. The impacted projects range from very basic to applied research with immediate translational potential. We therefore expect a highly synergistic impact on studies aimed at improving human health.