[RASMB] Workshop On Hydrodynamic and Thermodynamic Analysis of Biological Macromolecules in Solution With SEDFIT and SEDPHAT

[Peter Schuck]

Dear Colleagues,

this is to announce the

Workshop On Hydrodynamic and Thermodynamic Analysis of Biological 
Macromolecules in Solution
With SEDFIT and SEDPHAT

It will take place on February 5-8, 2007 at the National Institutes of 
Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

This workshop will review strategies for hydrodynamic and thermodynamic 
analysis of sedimentation equilibrium and sedimentation velocity analytical 
ultracentrifugation (AUC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and isothermal 
titration calorimetry (ITC) for the characterization of biological 
macromolecules.

On the first day, Monday 2/5, we will provide an introduction into the 
experimental aspects of AUC and ITC. This part will take place in the 
laboratory.  We will review the basic operation of the ultracentrifuge, 
assembly of the AUC cells, the choice of buffers, and the application of 
different optical systems dependent on the system to be studied.  This 
introduction is suitable also for beginners.  Expert AUC users can decide 
to skip this day, or they may find it interesting to jointly recapitulate 
experimental strategies.  The following days, Tuesday 2/6 - Thursday 2/8, 
will cover many advanced topics of data analysis and experimental 
setup.  It is aimed at researchers experienced with AUC (and/or DLS and/or 
ITC).  During the workshop, the participants have the opportunity to 
present their systems and discuss their data.


Topics include:

Experimental
* Experiment design in AUC: choice of concentrations, buffers, optical systems
* Conducting the AUC experiment: assembly of ultracentrifugal cells, 
adjustment of optics, operating the XLA/I
* Experimental setup in ITC, and experimental strategy

Theory and Practical Data Analysis
* Overview of sedimentation velocity analysis with SEDFIT
* Discrete species analysis by direct boundary modeling
* Sedimentation coefficient and molar mass distributions
* Interpretation of the goodness of fit, frictional ratio, and statistical 
analysis
* Incorporating prior knowledge in c(s)
* Size-and-Shape distributions c(s,M) and c(s,f)
* scale-free general sedimentation coefficient distribution c(s,*)
* Dynamic light scattering analysis

Global Modeling
* Overview of data organization in SEDPHAT, and exporting data from SEDFIT 
to SEDPHAT
* Global analysis concepts with SEDPHAT
* Hybrid discrete/continuous sedimentation coefficient distribution analysis
* Analysis of self-associating systems by c(s), isotherms, and direct 
boundary modeling
* Analysis of hetero-associating systems by sedimentation velocity
* Introduction to analysis strategies based on Gilbert-Jenkins theory
* Global modeling of the reaction boundary
* Multi-signal sedimentation velocity analysis for heterogeneous interactions
* Sedimentation equilibrium analysis:  global analysis of multi-wavelength 
data
* Mass conservation models for sedimentation equilibrium
* Systematic noise elimination
* General error analysis methods
* Isotherm analysis with SEDPHAT
* Global analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry for studying 
cooperativity in multi-protein complexes


Format:
The first workshop day covering the practical topics will be a mixture of 
laboratory hands-on exercises and demonstrations.  This will take place 
largely in our analytical ultracentrifugation and ITC laboratories, 
alternating with review and discussion of experimental strategies in the 
seminar room.  The following three days of the workshop will be devoted to 
the practical data analysis and take place in a classroom.  The goal is to 
ensure through hands-on training that the participants become familiar with 
the details of the use of the software, and confident with each type of 
data analysis.  We will have a lecture series in the morning and early 
afternoon to introduce and recapitulate the theoretical background as well 
as the concepts for their implementation in the software, mixed with long 
sessions of practical exercises on examples, where each participant will 
conduct data analyses on his/her laptop concurrent with the step-by-step 
demonstration projected on the large screen.

 From mid afternoon each day, the participants are encouraged to give 20 - 
25 min presentations on a topic of their interest.  This can be, for 
example, a presentation of the biological background of a system of 
interacting proteins for which sedimentation analysis may be applied in the 
future; a presentation of an existing application of analytical 
ultracentrifugation; an introduction to another biophysical technique for 
studying macromolecules; the presentation of an open question regarding 
ultracentrifugation technique; or the discussion of preliminary data.  The 
purpose of this section is to learn about areas of application and to 
stimulate the discussion.  In the past, this section has become a favorite 
for most participants, since it allows to get to know each other's 
interests, and as a group to take advantage of unique expertise of each of 
the participants.  After registration, please indicate by email to 
pschuck at helix.nih.gov if you would be willing to contribute a short talk 
for this section of the workshop.

Instructors:
         Andrea Balbo (NIBIB, NIH)
         Jennifer Barrila (Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University)
         Chad Brautigam (Biochemistry Department, UT Southwestern Medical 
School, Dallas)
         Patrick Brown (NIBIB, NIH)
         John W. Burgner (Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue 
University)
         Peter Schuck (NIBIB, NIH)

This workshop takes place at NIH, Monday February 5 to Thursday, February 
8, 2007, 9 am - 6 pm.
The number of participants is limited and registration is required.  Each 
participants will need a laptop with SEDFIT and SEDPHAT and the example 
data installed (installation instructions will be provided).

For registration information, please contact Ms. Carline Coote at 
ccoote at mail.nih.gov , phone # (+1) 301-496-7975.

With best regards and Seasonal Greetings,
Peter Schuck