Keck Biophysics Facility

Mission

The Keck Biophysics Facility offers access to a collection of  advanced instruments for integrated studies of the structure, dynamics and interactions of biological and synthetic macro-molecules. The Keck Facility provides research groups at Northwestern with state of the art equipment, outstanding services, specialized training and  technical expertise.

Equipment Available

• Circular Dichroism Spectrometer (J-815)
• Photon-Counting Fluorescence Spectrometer (ISS PC1)
• Differential Scanning Calorimeter (VP-DSC)
• Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (ITC₂₀₀)
• Surface Plasmon Resonance(Reichert 4SPR)
• HPLC (Agilent 1100)
• Size Exclusion Chromatography with Light Scattering Detectors (SEC-MALS-QELS)
• Dynamic Light Scattering Instrument (BI-9000/BI-200)
• Gel Imaging System
• Phosphoimager/Fluoroimager Scanner (Typhoon 9400)
• UV/Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer with Integrating Sphere (PE Lambda 1050)
• Fluorescence Plate Reader (Gemini EM)
• NanoDrop Fluorimeter
• Low Volume DLS (Unchained Labs pUNk)
• Preparative Micro-Ultracentrifuge (sorvall MX150)

Services Offered

• Training
• Assistance with experimental design, sample preparation and data analysis
• Technical expertise, written manuals, guidelines and application notes
• Staff -service options available on most instruments
• Specialized staff services for advanced biophysical characterization of:
  • Proteins - solubility, oligomeric state, secondary, tertiary structure assessments
  • Drug-Target Interactions - binding affinity (KD), kinetic rate constants (kon, koff) thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS), EC50 measurements, specificity and stoichiometry assays
• Consultation and assistance
• Support letters for grant applications and research proposals
• Tours and presentations of the facility for faculty or postdoctoral candidates

Acknowledgement

All manuscripts and grants presenting work supported by this core should include the following acknowledgement:

"This work was supported by the Northwestern University Keck Biophysics Facility and a Cancer Center Support Grant (NCI CA060553)."