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Life Science Applications of Countercurrent Chromatography

Developments in spectroscopic analysis and routine availability of X-ray crystallography have simplified structural elucidation of natural compounds. However, isolating bioactive components of interest from crude extracts of either plants or animals has always been challenging for two reasons: these extracts contain hundreds of compounds with a range of polarities, and the bioactivity of the compound of interest should be maintained throughout the purification process. This is where countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is helpful.

21 Dec 2017

Optimizing Protein Purification with FPLC

Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) is a liquid chromatography technique for separation of protein molecules under pressure. It differs from high performance liquid chromatography in that the pressures are generally lower, around 435 to 580 psi, compared to 3000-to 5000 psi for an HPLC system.

20 Dec 2017

Two-Photon Microscopy

Two-photon microscopy (also known as two-photon fluorescence light microscopy) was invented in 1990 as a new method of imaging live cells and tissues in three-dimensions. Conventional fluorescence microscopy illuminates a specimen through the processes of excitation and emission.

19 Dec 2017

Two-Photon Microscopy Applications

Two-photon microscopy is a method that enables the imaging of live cell and tissue samples with high resolution. It is a form of fluorescence microscopy and provides visualization of fluorescent signals via an excitation wavelength being absorbed by a fluorophore and an emission wavelength released.

18 Dec 2017

Protein Microarray Challenges

A protein microarray consists of the immobilization of proteins in organized rows and columns upon a support structure. The structure of the protein microarray allows for high-throughput analysis of protein functions and interactions.

18 Dec 2017

Protein Microarray Applications

Protein microarrays are used to determine the function of proteins, as well as to monitor their interactions. The structure of the array allows for numerous proteins to be tracked in parallel. Protein microarrays were developed by utilizing the technology of DNA microarrays, which are commonly used to analyze gene expression.

15 Dec 2017

How Do Microarrays Work?

A microarray is a two-dimensional arrangement of biological samples allowing for high-throughput analysis of genetic information. DNA microarrays are commonly used to genotype multiple regions of a genome or to generate lists of expressed genes from a cell.

15 Dec 2017

History of Microarrays

Microarrays are a two-dimensional arrangement of biological samples, with samples placed in spots numbering in the thousands and organized into columns and rows. They allow for efficient analysis of genetic material and the most common type, DNA microarrays, have been utilized for large-scale studies of gene expression. The history of microarrays follows a path that links the groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA to contemporary studies of genetics.

14 Dec 2017

Cell-Matrix Adhesion Overview

Tissue structures are determined by both cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix adhesion, with the latter describing interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is the collection of collagen fibers, proteoglycans and multi-adhesive matrix proteins that are secreted by cells to form an essential support structure.

14 Dec 2017

FRET: Applications in Biology

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism of energy transfer that is widely utilized in biological experiments such as molecular structure examination. It is often referred to as a “spectroscopic ruler,” due to its nature wherein the distance between two fluorophores is determined as the ratio of fluorescence intensities.

13 Dec 2017

Homo FRET for Molecular Biology, Insulin Research and Proteomics

Homo FRET is a non-radiative transfer between two similar probes that display an intersection of emission and absorption spectra.

13 Dec 2017

History of Single Molecule Experiments

Single-molecule experiments guide in identifying key factors that determine the behavior of biomolecules.

12 Dec 2017

GFP Derivatives: CFP and YFP

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a bioluminescent polypeptide protein that is extracted from jellyfish (Aequorea victoria). A protein, known as aequorin, in Aequorea Victoria exposes blue light when it binds with calcium. GFP completely absorbs this blue light and emits it as a green light.

11 Dec 2017

Cryo-Electron Tomography

Electron cryotomography (ECT, also known as cryo-electron tomography, cryo-ET) is a 3D imaging technique that can analyze the structure of complex and varied biological assemblies in their native conditions at nanometer resolution. The sample preparation in this technique does not require separation of proteins and other macromolecular complexes from their native environment.

8 Dec 2017

Coupling and Ionization in Miniature Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is mainly involved in analysis of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and large quantity of ions traveling at high speed in vacuum. It is one of the most powerful tools used in investigation of the structure and composition of matter.

7 Dec 2017

History of Cell Reprogramming

Cell reprogramming is the process used for converting cells from one particular type to another. Over the past six decades, many techniques have been developed to define induced pluripotency.

7 Dec 2017

Epitranscriptome Sequencing Technologies

An epitranscriptome is a set of functionally appropriate RNA modifications. There are nearly one hundred known modifications of RNA; the most common modification in internal mRNA is N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Transfer RNAs (tRNAs), mRNAs, and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are the three types of RNAs that are post-transcriptionally modified.

6 Dec 2017

Extending the Capabilities of TEM

Electron microscopes are tools of paramount importance for scientists in the field of life science and material science. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a microscopy technique that uses electrons instead of light to produce detailed images of the structure of elements.

6 Dec 2017

Cryo-Electron Microscopy Techniques

The term “cryo-electron microscopy” (abbreviated as “cryo-EM”) is used in a large number of experimental methods. It works on the principle of imaging the radiation-sensitive samples by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) under low temperature conditions.

5 Dec 2017

Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Pharmaceuticals

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a technique which involves the sensitive measurement of the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of an analyte and that of a reference (such as an empty aluminium pan) as a function of temperature, whilst keeping both at almost the same temperature as each other.

5 Dec 2017