Biacore X100

Description

Biacore X100 (GE Healthcare) is automated surface plasmon resonance based refractometer. It can be used for the analysis of 15 different analytes in single run. The chip with two flow cells are compatible with Biacore X. The unit has incorporated degasser and offers single-cycle titration and calibration-free concentration analysis.

The equipment is accessible to both internal and external users upon prior request. Individuals interested in utilizing the equipment should contact the device administrator. Only trained operators can schedule the use of the equipment, or alternatively, the measurement can be conducted by the experienced staff of the Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology.

Specifications

Measurement possibilities affinity (KD), kinetics (ka, kd), active concentration, thermodynamics
Sample load automatic
Size limit > 100 Da
Flow rate 1–100 μl/min
Typical concentrations (proteins) pM–μM
Sample volume 50–120 μl
Refractive index 1.33–1.40
Analysis temperature 25 °C
Number of flow cells 2
Reference subtraction yes
different buffer conditions yes
Sample concentration 10-3–10-11 M
Association constant (ka) 103–107 M-1 s-1
Dissociation constant (kd) 10-5–0.5 s-1
Baseline noise < 0.1 RU
Baseline drift < 0.3 RU/min
Calibration-free concentration analysis yes
Single-cycle titration yes

Sample requirements

Purity/quality of the sample needed

Purity and homogeneity of analytes has to be exceptional. Proteins, for example, have to be tested with the SDS-PAGE with minimum of 1 μg protein loaded, where they should appear as a single well visible band (e. g. at least 95 % purity). Similarly, DNA has to be tested on agarose gel and lipid vesicles have to be tested with DLS for their homogeneity.

Concentration of the analyte needs to be determined as accurately as possible (spectrophotometrically) and it should be measured right before the experiment.

Purity of the ligand (molecule attached to the sensor chip) can be lower.

Amount needed for a typical measurement

Ligand (attached to the surface): ~ 10-50 µg of a protein/~0.1-0.3 µg of a DNA/~ 100–300 µl of 200 µM vesicles for one immobilization.

Analyte: ~200 µl of a biomolecule with a concentration around 10 x expected KD (per one titration).

Buffer considerations

Most commonly used buffers are HBS-EP (10 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 3.4 mM EDTA, 0.005 % P-20), TBS-P (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 0.005 % P-20) and PBS-P (10.1 mM Na2PO4, 1.8 mM KH2PO4 pH 7.4, 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.005 % P-20).

Additives to suppress non-specific binding are often added to buffers: 0.1 % BSA, 0.1–10 mg/ml CM-dextran (in case of dextran sensor chips), raising the detergent concentration (up to 0.1 %), raising the salt concentration (up to 250 mM NaCl), 3 mM EDTA.
When working with lipid vesicles, buffers should not contain detergents. Tris-containing buffers should be avoided in the amine-coupling (ligand immobilization) step.

When samples require glycerol or DMSO, special care should be taken to match ligand and reference surface.

Other requirements

Guest researchers are kindly asked to fill in the Sample request form regarding sample quality, experimental conditions and plausible previous results.

Buffers and consumables for experiments can be provided by the National Institute of Chemistry by prior arrangement.

Contact

Kristina Eleršič Filipič

kristina.elersic.filipic@ki.si

Kemijski inštitut

Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana

Documents

  • Biacore X100 Getting started
  • Biacore X100 Handbook
  • Biacore X100 The personal Biacore experience