Analytical ultracentrifuge

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 429433916

Since the foundation of the Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and the associated research facility for Structural Biochemistry, Hannover has been a location for analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) of international standing. Our AUC equipment is an important research tool not only for interested parties at MHH, but it is also used by many scientists nationwide. With the help of AUC, interactions of proteins, nucleic acids and ligands can be qualitatively and quantitatively investigated in solution without the influence of interfering solid phases. The device currently in use, a Beckman Coulter ProteomeLab XL-I from 2008, is no longer state-of-the-art. In the 12th year of operation, its usage is increasingly restricted by downtimes, high repair and increasing maintenance costs. The new Beckman Coulter Optima AUC model has the optical components moved out of the vacuum chamber. This facilitates the integration of high-performance optical components and enables simultaneous detection with up to three different optics. Sedimentation can be detected at up to 20 wavelengths with higher scan speed and resolution. This allows improved quantitative interaction studies of molecules with different absorption spectra. The higher temporal resolution facilitates the investigation of sensitive proteins and enables the tracking of the sedimentation of larger protein complexes with significantly increased selectivity.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Analytische Ultrazentrifuge
• Instrumentation Group: 1210 Ultrazentrifugen (über 25.000 1/Min)
• Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Leader: Professor Dr. Dietmar J. Manstein