| The six applicants of this proposal request funds for two instruments, an isothermal titration calorimeter and a real-time PCR detection system. The two systems will be used for the characterization of interactions and molecular stability. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can quantify stoichiometries, binding constants, as well as enthalpic and entropic parameters resulting from (bio-)molecular interactions. The real-time PCR detection system will be used for high-throughput screening to establish thermal stability of (bio)molecules under a large range of external parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, additives and concentration. The equipment will facilitate new experiments for six lines of research that encompasses a variety of scientific interests, such as regulation of Ca2+ transport across membranes, riboswitch-metabolite interactions, supra- and macromolecular chemistry, allosteric- and synergistic catalytic systems, bio-organic chemistry and regulation of ribonuclease complexes. These research lines have a common molecular perspective, in which individual interacting molecules are studied in relation to their macroscopic properties. The requested instrumentations will enable experiments aimed at the integration of this molecular perspective with accurate prediction of function and activity. |
