Structural Biology Resource Center

The Structural Biology Resource Center (RRID:SCR_017732) is an expert resource for protein expression and purification as well as the determination of the three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules via X-ray crystallography.

The Structural Biology Resource Center (SBRC) offers:

• Assistance with experimental design in:
  protein over-expression, purification and crystallography
• Individualized instruction and training on the instruments
• Fee-for-service for any project, including synchrotron data collection
• Consultation on structural information and data analysis
• Experimental troubleshooting
• Synchrotron coordinator

The mission of the SBRC is to offer the expertise and tools to generate best results through high quality, reliability and open dialog for the benefit of research at The Rockefeller University and surrounding research institutions.

The Center provides training, expert guidance and fee-for-service for researchers undertaking protein over-expression for molecular biology and crystallographic structure determination. The Center is also the RU liaison to the Advanced Photon Source and Brookhaven National Labs NSLS-II synchrotron X-ray beam lines.

The SBRC is fully equipped for small scale production of proteins in E. coli, insect or mammalian cells. For a monthly fee, researchers may have access to the lab and its supplies, thereby avoiding startup costs for short-term projects.

The SBRC has a Bio-Rad NGC Quest FPLC system capable of handling large volumes and an Äkta Purifier; both available either as a hands-on instrument or as a fee for service by the SBRC staff. Separations may be based on affinity, sizing or ion-exchange.

An SEC-MALS Dawn Heleos-II by Wyatt Technologies for determining absolute molecular weights, oligomeric states, protein-protein interactions and conjugation.

Specialized robotic liquid handling is offered at the center. The Formulator by Formulatrix prepares trays from stock solutions, reducing preparation time from days to minutes. The Mosquito by SPTlabs is a nanodrop dispenser that can dispense 96 or 284-well trays with no risk of contamination while the Phoenix by Art Robbins can dispense the reservoirs from trays made by Formulator (or obtained commercially) to individual trays and nanodrop dispense the protein/precipitant drops using any 96-well crystallization tray.

UV fluorescence imaging of crystallization experiments is available. This technique allows the experimenter to determine whether very tiny crystals are in fact protein and not salt or other undesired components. This microscope is made by JanScientific and is capable of identifying Trp-containing protein crystals by excitation in the deep UV (280nm) and observing the emission at 350 nm. Also available is a stereomicroscope, Nikon SMZ18, for crystal tray observations and crystal mounting.