You are here: Biocev / Core Facilities / Centre of Molecular Structure

Centre of Molecular Structure

Guarantor
Jan Dohnálek, PhD.
dohnalek@imc.cas.cz

Centre Description

The Centre of Molecular Structure will encompass several laboratories providing a complex approach to studies of three-dimensional structure, function and biophysical properties of biological molecules. It will provide expertise, measurements and assistance in the following areas: crystallisation of biological molecules, single crystal x-ray diffraction, crystal structure solution, small angle x-ray scattering for determination of size and shape of molecules, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, microcalorimetric techniques for monitoring of interactions and stability (ITC, DSC), determination of parameters of molecular interactions (SPR) and of oligomerization state and molecular dimensions, determination of protein primary sequence on microgram scale and of arrangement of disulphide bridges (FTMS), characterisation of post-translational modifications and tertiary and quaternary structure mapping.

 

Diffraction experiment, illustrative picture (in the middle, the protein crystal is placed at the end of a metal needle, which can be rotated by means of motors located in the lower part of the instrument. On the left, a collimator (tube) brings an intensive beam of x rays to the sample; from upwards, liquid nitrogen vapours maintain the crystal at a temperature of 100 K. On the right, a CCD detector records diffraction traces – data that will later be used to determine the spatial structure of the protein.