A major addition was the establishment of the Biomolecular Interactions Core Facility jointly funded by DST-FIST and IISER Kolkata. The Biomolecular Interactions facility has been equipped with state-of-the art equipment for studying biomolecular interactions such as protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, protein-small molecules, nucleic acid- small molecules etc. at both steady state and real time conditions. The equipment which have been procured and installed in the Biomolecular Interactions Core Facility include a Surface Plasmon Resonance system (Biacore T200 from GE Healthcare), an Isothermal Titration Calorimeter (Microcal PEAQ-ITC from Malvern Pananalyical), a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography System (Waters Breeze 2) and a Stopped Flow spectrophotometer. These equipments have been housed in a separate temperature and humidity-controlled facility under UPS and filtered power supply for proper maintenance and operation.

Equipment Details

Circular Dichroism Spectrophotometer
Features:

▶ Simultaneous modes of CD, LD and absorbance can be measured when combined with a wide range of sampling accessories and these accessories can measure a variety of samples, from liquids to films to solid states.
▶ Temperature control systems is coupled with multi-position cells to run thermal melts, providing researchers with CD and thermodynamic data sets for conformational and folding studies and Kinetic and protein dynamics studies can be performed.
▶ The wavelength range has also been significantly extended, allowing measurements to be obtained in both the vacuum-UV and NIR spectral regions using the standard PMT detector (163 – 950 nm).


Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)
Features:

Affinity range: fM to mM, Analysis temperature: 4°C to 45°C (maximum 20°C below ambient temperature), Analysis time per cycle: Typically 2 to 15 min, Association rate constant (ka): Proteins 103 to 3 × 109 M-1s-1 and LMW molecules 103 to 5 × 107 M-1s-1, Baseline drift < 0.3 RU/min, Baseline noise < 0.03 RU (RMS)
Buffer selection: Automatic switching between four buffers Capacity 1 × 96- or 384-well microplate and up to 33 reagent vials or 78 vials for samples and reagents 
Concentration range: Sample concentration > 1 pM Dissociation rate constant (kd)10-5 to 1 s-1, Flow cell volume: 60 nL, Flow rate: 1 to 100 μL/min, Injection volume 2 to 350 μL
Application : Kinetics/affinity characterization, kinetics/affinity screening, single-cycle kinetics, LMW interaction analysis, fragment screening, epitope mapping1, immunogenicity, concentration analysis, calibration-free concentration analysis, thermodynamics, comparability, sample recovery MS .


HPLC System (Waters)
Features:

Waters 2475 HPLC Multi Fluorescence Detector:Wavelength Range Ex: 200 to 890 nm, Em: 210 to 900 nm, Wavelength Accuracy: 3 nm, Wavelength repeatability: 0.25 nm, Lamp Source: Xenon arc lamp (150 W), Flow Cell : Axial Illuminated Flow Cell design, Cell Volume (Illuminated): 8 L (standard analytical), Pressure Limit:145 psi (flow rate not to exceed 5 mL/min)
Waters 2424 ELS: Optics: Heated optics bench (constant 50 °C), Light source: Tungsten halogen polychromatic front mounted, pre-aligned, Detector: PMT, Scattering angle: 60 degrees
The Waters Fraction Collector III (WFC-III): Designed for use with HPLC, Preparative HPLC, and MS applications, Compatible with flow rates as high as 300 mL per minute, the Fraction Collector III handles a variety of adapter racks and collection vessels within a compact footprint, Its flexible design accommodates fraction sizes compatible with microtiter plates up to multiple liter containers.Choose from several task-specific sample run modes of operation (time, signal, peak numbers, etc.)
Waters 2707 Autosampler: High-resolution syringe control for high-precision injections, Interchangeable fixed-volume sample loops, Variable-volume partial-loop injection capability, Optional sample cooling for consistent results, Pressure-assisted sample aspiration injection capability, Use of plates or vials, alone or in combination, for varied sampling formats, Empower and ChromScope v2.1 Software control


HPLC System (Thermofisher)
Features:

UltiMate 3000 HPLC system:UHPLC design for all nano, standard analytical, and RSLC systems, 620 bar maximum pressure for basic and standard analytical systems—setting a new benchmark in HPLC, x2 Dual Systems form a unique platform for routine analysis, increased productivity solutions, and advanced chromatographic techniques.
▶ Systems are controlled using Thermo Scientific™ Chromeleon™ Chromatography Data System software—providing Intelligent
Functionality and Operational Simplicity™.
▶ Systems are offered with Thermo Scientific™ Viper™ and Thermo Scientific™ nanoViper™ fitting systems—fingertight, zero-dead-volume connections even at UHPLC pressures.


Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC)
Features:

▶ User-friendly guided workflows with embedded video tutorials give any level of user the ability to generate high quality data. High signal to noise gives more confidence in accessing data quality and relevance of generated affinity and thermodynamic parameters • Automated washing with detergent of the sample cell and titration syringe assists in producing high quality reproducible data
▶ Analyses all binding parameters (affinity, stoichiometry, enthalpy, entropy) in a single experiment. Quick to first result with minimal assay development and no labelling. Sensitive enough to investigate biomolecular interaction using as little as 10 µg protein, Directly measures sub-millimolar to nanomolar affinities
▶ Measures nanomolar to picomolar disassociation constants using competitive binding (10-9 to 10-12 M)
▶ PEAQ-ITC analysis software, Open multiple experiments in a single session. Automated fitting models (One-Site, Two-Site, Sequential, Competitive, Enzyme Kinetics, Dissociation), Automated assessment of data quality


Stopped Flow
Features:

Software: Bio-Kine 3.5, Kaleidegraph 3.5 & MPS 1.28
Stopped-Flow Module: SFM-400 With Three 10 ml and One 1.9 ml Syringes, MPS-60 Microprocessor, Observation Head with Separate Cooling & Thermo/ Neslab RTE-101 Refrigerated Circulator
Modular Optical System: MOS-200 Motorized Monochromator, ALX-220 Arc Lamp Power Supply, Two PM-200 Photomultiplier Tubes, Two PMS-200 Photomultiplier Control Unit, MM-200 Interface for Software Control of The Monochromator & Four Channel BNC Data Acquisition Box


Cell Imaging Multimode Reader
Features:

▶ Cytation™ 5 combines automated digital microscopy and conventional microplate detection in a configurable, upgradable platform.The microscopy module offers up to 60x magnification in fluorescence, brightfield, high contrast brightfield, color brightfield and phase contrast for maximum applications reach. The multi-mode detection modules include filter- and monochromator-based fluorescence  detection, luminescence and UV-Vis absorbance detection. 
▶ Gen5™ software provides complete control over all imaging and data capture, plus powerful image and data analysis.
▶ Modular digital microscopy and multi-mode detection, each with independent optical components CO2/O2 control, incubation and shaking for live cell assays
▶ Wide field of view camera for fast whole well imaging, Label-free cell counting for cell proliferation studies, More than 20 imaging filter/LED cube colors reach many applications, 100 mW Alpha Laser: Speed and performance-based excitation for Alpha assays Modular design.


UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and Fluorometer
Features:

▶ Three-in-one Fluorescence and Absorbance Spectrometer UV-Vis-NIR Fluorescence Detection Wavelength Range from 250 to 1,100 nm
▶ Full 3-D Fluorescence EEM Acquisition in Less Than One Second
▶ Best in Class Fluorescence Sensitivity Specification of 6,000:1 RMS for Water Raman
▶ Automatic Correction for Primary and Secondary Inner Filter Effects (IFE)
▶ High Fidelity Molecular Fingerprinting with Unique A-TEEM™ (Absorbance-Transmittance Excitation Emission Matrix) Technology
▶ Millisecond CCD Detection of Entire Fluorescence Spectrum


CHN analyser
Features:

▶ The direct TPD technology guarantees a large dynamic measurement range, enabling the analysis of samples with C:N and C:S elemental ratios of up to 12,000:1 with reliable baseline separation. This allows for the analysis of homogenous substances of small sample weights (0.1 mg) as well as the analysis of inhomogeneous samples up to 1 g.
▶ The UNICUBE can analyze samples with a maximum carbon content of 14 mg (50 mg in CN mode) and offers optional upgrade kits for the determination of sulfur via infrared detector, oxygen, and chlorine.


Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA)
Features:

▶ Malvern NanoSight PRO, Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) equipped with USB High Sensitivity Camera, Red Laser(642nm) and Green Laser (532 nm). To measure the size distribution, count, concentration, and fluorescence intensity solely for Nanoparticles (size range 10-1000 nm). Particles appear individually as point-scatterers moving under Brownian motion—fully programmable temperature control (5 °C below ambient up to 70 °C).
▶ The Nanosight Pro comes with the most recent software: NS Xplorer. The new NS Xplorer software has a modern & intuitive interface with defined workflow and user guidance.


N2 Generator
Features:

▶ Flow rate (Max)20 l/min, Outlet pressure (Max)5.5 bar (79.7 psi), Nitrogen purity *1up to 99.999%, Outlet Dew-point<-60°C (-76°F), Outlet particulate 0.01 micron, Working Temperature: 5-35°C (41-95°F), Storage Temperature: 1-50°C (34-122°F), Humidity (max, non condensing)70% [5-35°C (41-95°F), Noise< 58 dB(A)
▶ Connected with HPLC System and Circular Dichroism Spectrophotometer