Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) System

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 440386560

In addition to the determination of atomically resolved structures of biologically and medically relevant proteins using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and cryo electron microscopy, the quantitative analysis of the interactions of proteins with physiological and artificial ligands is an essential pillar of the Willbold group. Among the methods used by Willbold group for interaction analysis, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in particular plays an exposed role. It enables the simultaneous determination of the affinity and kinetics of the respective interaction with a very low substance requirement without the need for prior labelling of the biomolecules. SPR is suitable for the characterization of interactions of very different affinities with dissociation constants in the pico- to millimolar range. The existing SPR system (8 years old) has been fully booked for a long time. The measurement time is limited for own measurements and those of other workgroups, which of course also have the device at their disposal. The existing SPR system works reliably, but is no longer state of the art. Especially in the investigation of weak interactions and very small (low molecular weight) ligands the sensitivity is not sufficient for reliable measurements. The sample throughput is far from sufficient for today's needs. Therefore the procurement of a fully automated, highly sensitive SPR system is essential for current and future projects of Willbold group.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Oberflächenplasmonresonanz (SPR)-Gerät
• Instrumentation Group: 3160 Biomolekular-Interaktionssysteme
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Leader: Professor Dieter Willbold, Ph.D.