Keck Biophysics Facility

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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

• Biolayer Interferometers (Octet K2 and BLItz)
• Circular Dichroism Spectrometer (Jasco J-1700)
• Photon-Counting Fluorescence Spectrometer (ISS PC1)
• Isothermal Titration Calorimeters (ITC₂₀₀ and Affinity ITC)
• Surface Plasmon Resonance (Reichert 4SPR)
• HPLC (Agilent 1200)
• Size Exclusion Chromatography and Field Flow Fractionation with Light Scattering Detectors (Wyatt SEC/FFF-MALS-QELS)
• Dynamic Light Scattering (Unchained Labs pUNk)
• Gel Imaging System (Azure 600)
• Fluorescence / Chemiluminescence Laser Imager (Azure Sapphire)
• UV/Vis/NIR Spectrophotometer with Integrating Sphere (PE Lambda 1050)
• Fluorescence Plate Reader (Gemini EM)
• NanoDrop Absorbance Spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher ND 2000)
• NanoDrop Fluorimeter ( Thermo Fisher ND 3300)
• Preparative Micro-Ultracentrifuge (Sorvall MX1)

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