Welcome to the Biophysics-Facility in the Faculty for Biology and Preclinical Medicine. We provide access and training to biophysical instruments allowing the characterization and quantification of molecular interactions, protein stability and size. 

The facility offers instruments for MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST), Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).

MicroScale Thermophoresis (MST) is an immobilization-free technology for measuring biomolecular interactions. The MST instrument detects the motion of fluorescent molecules along a microscopic temperature gradient, which reflects changes in the molecular hydration shell, charge, or size. Since one or all of these parameters will change with virtually every binding event, a wide range of biomolecules can be measured, from ions and small molecule fragments to large macromolecular complexes, in small volumes (~10 μl), in all kind of buffers and complex mixtures such as liposomes, detergent, serum, and cell lysates.

nanoDifferential Scanning Fluorimetry (nanoDSF) measures protein unfolding by monitory changes in fluorescence as a function of temperature. NanoDSF measures changes in intrinsic protein fluorescence as proteins unfold. Providing information about protein stability and the fraction of correct folded protein.

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measures the time-dependent fluctuations in scattered light. These fluctuations are directly related to rate of diffusion of the molecule through the solvent, and can be used to measure hydrodynamic radius (Rh) of the particles in solution. ​​​​​

Contact

Elisabeth Silberhorn
Mail: Elisabeth.Silberhorn@ur.de
Phone: 0941 9431848

Gernot Längst
Mail: Gernot.Laengst@ur.de
Phone: 0941 9432600