Analytical ultracentrifugation as a complementary technique for structural analysis of proteins and macromolecular complexes

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a powerful technique for analyzing fundamental characteristics of macromolecules in solution, including size and shape, assembly state, and degree of polydispersity. It allows the study of conformational changes and complex formation in physiologically relevant buffers. AUC is useful as a method to characterize structural aspects of macromolecules and as a quantitative technique that provides access to detailed thermodynamic characterization of a system under study. This webinar will describe basic principles underlying sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium AUC methods and ways in which AUC can be used to complement crystallographic or other structural biology approaches. Examples will be provided to illustrate AUC approaches for characterization of monodisperse or assembling proteins, simultaneous size-and-shape analysis of multi-species mixtures, and determination of affinity and stoichiometry of macromolecular complexes.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about basic principles underlying sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium AUC methods and ways in which AUC can be used to complement crystallographic or other structural biology approaches
• Learn AUC approaches for characterization of monodisperse or assembling proteins, simultaneous size-and-shape analysis of multi-species mixtures, and determination of affinity and stoichiometry of macromolecular complexes