Analytical ultracentrifugation

Service description

Analytical ultracentrifugation is a group of methods (sedimentation equilibrium and velocity) which allow to determine the size, the approximate overall shape and the degree of homogeneity of proteins and other biological macromolecules in solution. It is specially adapted for the detection and quantitative analysis (proportion of species, stoichiometry, affinity, reversibility) of interactions leading to the formation of macromolecular complexes, including protein-protein, DNA-protein, and receptor-ligand interactions. The Facility has two analytical ultracentrifuge: one model XL-A, fitted with an optical UV-VIS variable wavelength detection system, and one model XL-I, equipped with two optical detection systems: UV-VIS variable wavelength and Raleigh interference. The latter technique enables the study of macromolecules in solutions with high concentration/absorption in the UV-VIS.