Low-volume ITC for investigating biomolecular interactions

用于研究生物分子相互作用的小容量 ITC

• 批准号: 422377-2012
• 负责人: Omichinski, James
• 金额: $ 9.48万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2012-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=495780
• 关键词: Low; volume; ITC; investigating; biomolecular

Several researchers at the Université de Montréal are investigating important macromolecular complexes and together have formed an NSERC-funded CREATE training program entitled "Cellular dynamics of macromolecular complexes" (CDMC). This CREATE program is designed to train highly qualified personnel for employment in a number of job sectors, including pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The macromolecular complexes being investigated are important in regulating biological processes such as transcription, RNA processing, glycolysis, viral infection, antibiotic resistance, ion-transport through membranes and cancer. In order to fully understand the role of specific interactions within these important macromolecular complexes, it is crucial to thoroughly characterize both the binding affinity and the specificity of complex formation. Over the last several years, there have been a number of significant technical advancements in measuring the binding affinities of macromolecular complexes. However, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is one technique that allows direct measurement of true binding affinity since it does not require any modification of the molecules of interest and the measurements can be done in solution. The main disadvantage of ITC experiments with standard microcalorimeters is that, when measuring weak binding interactions, large quantities of sample material are needed, and this can often be prohibitive. As a result, low-volume ITC instruments have recently been developed. Low-volume ITC instruments not only significantly minimize the amount of sample required, but also increase sample throughput. These low-volume microcalorimeters are essential for studying interactions when the binding is weak and when sample material is either difficult to obtain or expensive. The requested low-volume microcalorimeter will help fulfill a pressing need for recording ITC experiments of macromolecular complexes and for training students and postdoctoral fellows as part of the CREATE-CDMC program.

蒙特利尔大学的几位研究人员正在研究重要的大分子复合物，并共同形成了一个由NSERC资助的CREATE培训计划，名为“大分子复合物的细胞动力学”（CDMC）。该CREATE计划旨在培养高素质的人才，以便在许多就业部门就业，包括制药和生物技术行业。正在研究的大分子复合物在调节生物过程中非常重要，例如转录，RNA加工，糖酵解，病毒感染，抗生素抗性，离子转运通过膜和癌症。 为了充分了解这些重要的大分子复合物中特异性相互作用的作用，彻底表征复合物形成的结合亲和力和特异性至关重要。在过去的几年中，在测量大分子复合物的结合亲和力方面取得了许多重大的技术进步。然而，等温滴定量热法（ITC）是一种允许直接测量真实结合亲和力的技术，因为它不需要对目标分子进行任何修饰，并且测量可以在溶液中进行。使用标准微量热计进行ITC实验的主要缺点是，当测量弱结合相互作用时，需要大量的样品材料，这通常是禁止的。因此，最近开发了小批量的国际贸易中心工具。低容量ITC仪器不仅可以显着减少所需的样本量，还可以提高样本吞吐量。这些小体积的微量热仪对于研究结合弱以及样品材料难以获得或昂贵时的相互作用至关重要。所要求的小容量微量热计将有助于满足记录ITC大分子复合物实验的迫切需要，并作为CREATE-CDMC计划的一部分培训学生和博士后研究员。