Instrumentation Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog English English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Translation is unavailable for Internet Explorer Cedars-Sinai Home 1-800-CEDARS-1 1-800-CEDARS-1 Close Find a Doctor Locations Programs & Services Health Library Patient & Visitors Community My CS-Link RESEARCH clear Go Close Navigation Links Academics Faculty Development Community Engagement Calendar Research Research Areas Research Labs Departments & Institutes Find Clinical Trials Research Cores Research Administration Basic Science Research Clinical & Translational Research Center (CTRC) Technology & Innovations News & Breakthroughs Education Graduate Medical Education Continuing Medical Education Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Professional Training Programs Medical Students Campus Life Office of the Dean Simulation Center Medical Library Program in the History of Medicine About Us All Education Programs Departments & Institutes Faculty Directory Molecular Therapeutics Core Back to Molecular Therapeutics Core Instrumentation Services and Prices FAQs Instrumentation Protein Chemistry The core facility houses a variety of equipment for cloning, expression and purification of bacterially expressed recombinant proteins; this includes vectors for ligation-independent cloning (LIC), numerous strains of E. coli for expression of challenging constructs and a refrigerated incubator for large-scale production of temperature-sensitive proteins. For large-scale purification, the lab has a GE AKTA Purifier FPLC system equipped with a variety of columns for size exclusion, affinity and ion exchange chromatography. Surface Plasmon Resonance A SensíQ Pioneer SPR system is available for characterizing protein-ligand interactions. The machine has three channels and includes an autosampler and two temperature-controlled slots for SBS-footprint deep-well blocks. This instrument offers a significant advantage over the more frequently used GE BiaCore models as it can derive kinetic parameters from single "OneStep" injections. X-ray Crystallography The core is equipped with a Rigaku MicroMax 007-HF X-ray generator and a Rigaku R-AXIS IV++ image plate detector. Cryo-equipment includes an Oxford Cobra cryostream, an inverted phi axis for easy retrieval of cryo-cooled crystals from the X-ray goniometer head and a SAM cassette for long-term storage of crystals under cryo-conditions. For experiments which may require a more intense X-ray beam, such as for high throughput data collection, or a tunable X-ray source, the facility also has rapid access to the SSRL synchrotron at Stanford University. Robotics Two ARI robotic systems have recently been added to the core facility; a Gryphon for nano-liter liquid handing of SBS-footprint plates, and a Scorpion for custom liquid handling. The former is primarily used for setting up protein/DNA crystallization trials - using as little as 20 μL to screen 96 reagent conditions. The Scorpion is a more versatile robot which is principally used in optimization of crystal "hits." Two incubators set at 4°C and 18°C are dedicated for housing crystallization plates. Microscale Thermophoresis (MST) Microscale Thermophoresis (MST) is the next generation of technology to screen drug against protein target. The instrument will complement surface plasmon resonance technique available in the Molecular Therapeutic Core. In particular, MST has capabilities to measure ligands/drugs for difficult drug targets such as transcription factors and membrane proteins. The key feature of this technology is the ability to measure affinity either using a recombinant proteins or proteins expressed in a cell lysate with greater precision. Additional Biophysical Instrumentation In addition to the equipment mentioned above, the molecular therapeutics core facility includes GE MicroCal calorimeters for thermodynamic analysis of protein-ligand interactions through ITC. A Waters Breeze 2 HPLC equipped with a number of columns for small molecule and protein chromatography is also available for use. Contact the Molecular Therapeutics Research Core 8700 Beverly Blvd. Davis, 5007 Los Angeles, CA 90048 310-423-6705 Send a Message Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility