Research Infrastructure, Div MCSB
The division possesses a substantial instrument base that includes state of the art equipment:
X-ray Diffractometer
Protein crystallographic analysis is carried out on a Rigaku micromax 007 microfocus X-ray generator with high-flux Osmic confocal multi-layer optics. X-rays are collimated to a 0.3 mm beam with X-rays from the copper K alpha emission (1.5418 Angstroms). Diffraction patterns are collected on Rigaku R-Axis 4++ image plates. Crystals are maintained at temperatures of -180 degrees C by an X-stream 2000 nitrogen vapour system.
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High Throughput Crystallisation Robotics
An automated high-throughput dispenser has been purchased for the setup of protein crystallization trials by vapour diffusion or Microbatch methods. The Apogent Discoveries Robbins Hydra-Plus-One is composed of a Hydra-PP system equipped with a motorized XYZ-platform, 96 precision glass syringes and a single-channel micro-solenoid dispenser, which transfers 100nL-50μL of protein solution with an accuracy of >90% at a speed of 60 seconds per 96 wells.
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NMR Spectroscopy
The division is equipped with a modern Bruker Avance 400MHz NMR spectrometer, situated in the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences (CBS) Building, which is used for a wide range of applications from characterising structures of natural products for medicinal chemistry using HSQC and HMBC to metabolomics applications (Clare Daykin), . The instrument is fitted with a 5mm switchable quadruple probe (QNP, for detection of 1H, 13C, 19F and 31P) with z-axis pulsed field gradients (PFG) and which is equipped for gradient shimming in order to ensure superior quality, rapid shimming of samples. The instrument also benefits from a brand new BACS120 autosampler, which allows for fully automated analysis of a large number of samples within a single run.
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Flow Cytometry System
The Division has a Beckman Coulter EPICS XL-MCL flow cytometry system. Flow cytometry allows us to rapidly measure cell activity and provides a picture of cell behaviour and cellular response to specific interference. The Epics offers state-of-the-art Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for reliable linearity and drift-free amplification and compensation. The single laser design eliminates concerns regarding multi-beam stability, signal delay and alignment. We use the machine to follow cell cycle transition and for analysis of surface markers (for example in apoptosis).
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Mass Spectrometer & HPLC
The Waters LCT mass spectrometer (right) is a powerful time-of-flight (TOF) based mass spectrometer that delivers high resolution, exact mass data in an easy-to-use benchtop platform. The instrument's unique Lockspray™ technology ensures routine exact mass performance that enables you to confidently determine elemental compositions accurate within 5ppm. Mass ranges are 50-2000 Da.
High pressure liquid chromatography is used for separation of pharmaceutical compounds from mixtures. We are equipped with a Waters analytical preparative HPLC with a 150ml pump head and an autosampler fraction collector robot running MassLinks software.
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High Performance Computing
The area of computational modelling and informatics has been further strengthened through major investments in high-performance computing and industry-standard software for high through-put ligand design. We have a dedicated molecular graphics laboratory equipped with 20 high performance graphic workstations which are used for molecular visualisation and to run a variety of graphics packages. To perform larger numerical calculations we have a Beowulf Cluster which consists of 16 dual processor nodes connected via high-speed optical networking.