(affinity, stoichiometry, enthalpy and entropy).

Manufacturer: Alfatest scientific instrumentation

Italian version

MicroCal PEAQ-ITC is an instrument suitable for carrying out Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) experiments through direct measurements of the heat released or absorbed during a molecular interaction. This technique does not require any modification or treatment of the sample (such as, for example, immobilization or labeling), and allows to accurately determine bond affinity (K_D), reaction stoichiometry (n), enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS). It is thus possible to obtain all the interaction parameters and the thermodynamic variables that regulate the process in a single experiment.

Some applications of MicroCal PEAQ-ITC

The MicroCal PEAQ-ITC platform lends itself to a wide variety of applications, such as:

- characterization of molecular interactions involving, for example, small molecules, proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids, metal ions and carbohydrates

- study of relationships between structure and activity (SAR)

- analysis of binding mechanisms (through enthalpy and entropy variations).

- analysis of enzymatic activity (measuring the relative constants and monitoring the activity and inhibition parameters)

- study of self-assembling processes and interaction of nanomaterials.

Technical characteristics of the MicroCal PEAQ-ITC

- Amount of biomolecules required of about 10 μg (300 μl of sample volume),

- Affinity constants detectable in the range 10^-2 a 10^{-12 M}

- Amount of detectable heat: 0.04 μJ

- Short term noise level: 0.15 ncal / s

- Baseline stability: ≤ 1 μCal / h

- Operating temperature range: 2 - 80 ° C, with stability +/- 0.00012 ° C at 25 ° C

- Automatic loading of the sample into the syringe, with bubble-free system compatible with high viscosity samples.

- Reaction cell made of Hastelloy, a chemically inert and corrosion resistant material (suitable for containing compounds with sulfhydryl groups or other reducing agents; acids, bases, biological buffers and different types of inorganic and organic solvents).

Location of the instrument:  Laboratory 5009, building U3, 5th floor.

For information: Annalisa D’Urzo, +39 02 6448 3397, annalisa.durzo@unimib.it