[RASMB] (no subject)

John Burgner jwb at bilbo.bio.purdue.edu
Fri Jul 30 19:28:01 PDT 2004


Dear All,

Does anyone with recent experience with "state of the art" CD spectrometers
have strong feelings on which  instruments would best fulfill the
description given below. 
Based on an intial investigation, it lookes like both  the Aviv 215 and the
Jassco J-810 fit the bill. Both Olis and Applied Photophysics seem to be
close 


Based on a survey of proven and potential users, high-quality sample
temperature control with automatic temperature ramping is an absolute
requirement for all.  A rapid stopped flow system (less than or equal to 1
ms dead time) is also essential for several users and will provide the fast
kinetic circular dichroism capabilities that are currently absent from
campus.  An automatic microtitrator will eliminate tedious and error-prone
manipulations and provide for time-saving automated data collection.  This
last capability was requested by several users, particularly for ligand
binding studies and the determination of protein and nucleic acid stability
as a function of denaturant concentrations.  Automatic titration will also
require a device for the effective mixing of sample and titrant in the
cuvette.

An additional optics and data processing package to allow the detection of
fluorescence polarization and anisotropy in the same instrument would be a
very valuable addition.  This polarization and anisotropy capability is not
replicated anywhere else on campus.  Since these packages also allow
collection of total fluorescence emission, this addition would enhance the
current fluorescence stopped flow capabilities on campus.  The fluorescence
package will allow simultaneous collection of circular dichroism and
fluorescence signals on the same sample, providing immediate confirmatory
data and reducing sample preparation requirements.  When combined with the
proposed automatic titrator, this package would enable stability and ligand
binding studies by complementary methods on samples in precisely the same
state (e.g. same ligand and/or denaturant concentration).  

Thanks for your help
John

John W. Burgner
Department of Biological Sciences
Purdue University
915 West State St
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054
765-494-4960
765-496-1189 (fax) 




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