Measuring molecular interactions in solution using multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation: combining spectral analysis with hydrodynamics
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Date
2019
Authors
Demeler, Borries
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Portland Press
Abstract
In 1926, the Swedish scientist Theodor Svedberg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
for his work on a disperse system, and for studying the colloidal properties of proteins.
This work was, to a large extent, made possible by his invention of a revolutionary tool, the
analytical ultracentrifuge. These days, technological advances in hardware and computing have
transformed the field of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) by enabling entirely new classes of
experiments and modes of measurement unimaginable by Svedberg, making AUC once again
an indispensable tool for modern biomedical research. In this article these advances and their
impact on studies of interacting molecules will be discussed, with particular emphasis on a new
method termed multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation (MWL-AUC). Novel detectors
allow us to add a second dimension to the separation of disperse and heterogeneous systems:
in addition to the traditional hydrodynamic separation of colloidal mixtures, it is now possible to
identify the sedimenting molecules by their spectral absorbance properties. The potential for this
advance is significant for the study of a large range of systems. A further advance has occurred in
data management and computational capabilities, opening doors to improved analysis methods,
as well as direct networking with the instrument, facilitating data acquisition and data handling,
and significant increases in data density from faster detectors with higher resolution capability.
Description
Open access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC by-NC-ND 4.0) applies
Keywords
Analytical ultracentrifugation , AUC , Spectral analysis , Interacting molecules , Multi-wavelength
Citation
Demeler, B. (2019). Measuring molecular interactions in solution using multi-wavelength analytical ultracentrifugation: Combining spectral analysis with hydrodynamics. Biochemist, 41(2), 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1042/BIO04102014