Surface plasmon resonance instrumentation for characterization of biomolecular interactions

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Biomolecular interactions are central to the function of cells and tissues. The aim of this proposal is to acquire surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrumentation for the study of biomolecular interactions in the Departments of Physics and Biology. Research programs of the principal investigators and others in the interdisciplinary uOttawa biological sciences community require the means for quantitative characterization of receptor-ligand binding processes that govern (1) the assembly of complexes of biomolecular components, and (2) the interaction between cells and biomacromolecules in their extracellular environment. The requested SensiQ biomolecular interaction system is a versatile fluidics-based, dual channel SPR sensing system that can be used to determine equilibrium receptor-ligand binding affinities and kinetic constants for the association of either biological macromolecules or intact cells with displayed molecular receptors. Beyond its important impact on our specific research programs, acquisition of this SPR system will enhance interdisciplinary research and training efforts in biological physics, molecular biology, the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics (CAREG) and the nascent Centre for Biomaterials Research, and will provide an important resource for the training of HQP in the general areas of molecular biophysics, cell biology, and the quantitative biomedical sciences.