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Mass spectrometry molecular separation via mass/charge (m/z) ratios. Each of the various ionization approaches excels in targeting different molecule types. Understanding these techniques can help you pick the optimal ionization method to “make your molecules fly” and reveal their unique mass spectra. Read this article to learn more.
Are you preparing to run your first column chromatography experiment? Here are some basics that you should know before you use that precious sample.
We often use size-exclusion chromatography to purify samples. Read this article to learn how to use it to measure sample molecular weight as well!
Need to get a handle on the fundamental differences between HPLC and GC to pick one for your studies? Here’s a quick explainer!
Do you need to learn about gas chromatography? This article takes you through the basic principles and instrumentation. With illustrations!
In biosciences, we purify our target molecules using chromatography. So, we need a thorough understanding of how chromatography works!
NMR is a powerful structural tool for studying proteins. Learn how to use multidimensional NMR to identify ligand binding sites and more!
NMR can generate tons of useful data for protein samples. Learn all about NMR and Protein Dimerization in this easy intro.
NMR is a structural tool that plays second fiddle to crystallography. But there’s a cheap, label-free method of investigating protein folding by NMR.
Ion-exchange chromatography is used to separate and purify proteins based on net charge at a particular pH. Here are the basics about this technique.
Do you need a way to estimate the molecular weight of a sample or protein? We walk you through one simple solution using a gel filtration chromatogram.
Looking to engineer a crystal? Here are some key parameters to optimize to give you the maximum chance of success at crystallizing protein DNA–complexes.
Mass spectrometry can feel intimidating. Read this easy-to-follow guide to demystify mass spectrometry and learn how it can help your research.
This followup article on HPTLC gives a list of dos and don’ts while performing HPTLC to achieve precise and error-free results, and avoid false positives.
Get robotic with HPTLC! This automated version of TLC can separate and quantify compounds – find out how!
A Spot of History Most of the biomedical methods used started as a curiosity. Then the one-off gains a limited use, the technology then progresses until its use becomes widespread. Just think about the arch from the curious polished glass spheres, used by Antony Levnhook to look at animalcules, to modern microscopes. The same story…
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an extremely sensitive technique for measuring the absorption and intensity of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared region of the spectrum of either a solid, liquid or gas sample. You can use FTIR to: quantify unknown compounds identify unknown compounds study the detailed structured coordination of compounds How Does Fourier…
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (or simply, MALDI) is a type of mass spectrometry method. If you are new to mass spectrometry, check out our excellent primers, titled How Does Mass Spec Work and Get Out of Western Blot Hell: An intro to Mass Spec. Basically, however, mass spectrometry allows you to measure, sort, and quantify small…
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) offers highly efficient, label-free detection for quantifying biomolecular interactions in real-time. Two exciting SPR variants that have sprung up in recent years are SPR for cellular analysis and SPR-mass spectrometry (SPR-MS). SPR for cellular analysis allows you to study how cells attach to different substrates and each other, while SPR-mass spectrometry…
Metabolomics may sound like a fictional character in the famous comic series “Asterix”, but it is very important in understanding systems biology and in clinical research against various diseases. Metabolomics is the last piece of a puzzle of omics applications following genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. It allows us to ask “What has happened and what…
Today, about half of all therapeutic drug approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are for biological drugs. That number is expected to rise to 75 percent by 2025. When these biologics come off patent, the gates will open for a flood of biosimilar drugs (biopharmaceutical generics) that are designed to be much…
Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a label-free, real-time way to examine protein binding and other molecular interactions, is getting easier as manufacturers have streamlined SPR instruments and supporting software. But problems can still arise. Troubleshooting Your SPR Assay Here are some common issues and suggestions to solve them: Inactive Targets Your target protein may have become…
You already learned the basics of column packing. When moving to more automated system using low pressure liquid chromatography systems, you can use pre-packed columns. But in order to compare several resins in specific conditions, and also to save money, you might need to pack your own low pressure columns. The art of packing a column…
In my last article, I discussed how to best keep your lab’s HPLC running smoothly. However, even the best-maintained HPLCs and columns need periodic cleaning. Today, I’ll describe how to identify and troubleshoot a clogged HPLC column. Columns Are Finite First of all, it’s important to realize that columns do have a finite lifetime. The…
If you work in the field of molecular biology, there is hardly a day that goes by that you don’t use nucleotides. But beyond the use of the four well-known deoxynucleotides in PCR, you can use nucleotides for several other applications. For example, kinases and phosphatases use nucleotides as substrates, and phosphotransferases transfer phosphate group…
If you’re anything like me, your biggest lab fear is working with expensive equipment prone to damage. HPLC is a wonderful tool, capable of separating, identifying, and quantifying a vast array of compounds, but it requires an attentive scientist to properly handle and maintain each component. In this article I’ll describe a few basic handling…
Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR spectroscopy) is a useful and exquisitely sensitive technique used to identify and quantify unknown compounds, as well as study fine molecular details. However, to obtain a meaningful IR spectrum, it is not only important to prepare the sample correctly but also to learn how to clean the apparatus that houses…
Do you use pre-packed Superdex 75 or Superdex 200 columns for gel filtration chromatography? Ever wonder if other media could better address your purification needs? Look no further. Your quest ends here! But if you’re looking for information on gel filtration principles, check out this earlier article. Choosing a Column for your Gel Filtration Experiment…
Mass Spec is all about getting the perfect peaks. Without a good peak assigning the correct mass is impossible and you cannot make accurate identifications. Make sure you know how to adjust your MALDI-TOF instrument parameters to achieve your perfect peak. In our previous posts ‘How does Mass Spec Work’ and ‘Imaging Mass Spectrometry: the…
The whole TLC technique sounds easy to do, but it can be difficult and tricky during interpretation or give unexpected results, especially when working with biomolecules. For this reason, it is important to be familiar with troubleshooting thin layer chromatography. Some of the common problems faced during TLC and their solutions are listed below: Solvent…
gif by Kronin Okay not talking about that kind of matrix. But the kind of matrix that is crucial for MALDI (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization). I talked briefly about MALDI in my last article, Imaging Mass Spectrometry: The New(ish) Kid on the Block. Now I want to tell you more about MALDI, specifically the matrix….
Like most other chromatographic techniques, thin layer chromatography (TLC) separates out individual compounds from a mixture depending upon the polarity of each compound. The solvent system travels up a silica plate by capillary action and passes over the sample that you spot onto the plate. As the solvent travels up, it moves the compounds present…
While working as biologists, we often come across mixtures of compounds, and the first question that strikes our minds is ‘what are the components in this mixture?’ One might think of using chemical assays to find the presence of specific compounds. But that sounds painful, doesn’t it? Well, the good news is that thin layer…
Let’s imagine the following scenario: You are researching a biosynthetic pathway in your favorite fungus. You know that this pathway produces a family of toxic compounds, and you want to see if you can block this pathway (or parts of it) with an antifungal drug. You have a control (no antifungal) and samples that have…
If you’re an HPLC guru, then you probably think that everyone should be using HPLC. And you might have a point – HPLC is very powerful and has broad applications across many fields. But it isn’t the answer to every problem. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) is used to separate mixtures of compounds based on their…
If you work with an HPLC, then you know the frustration of going to use the machine and finding it in disarray. If you’re new to using an HPLC, then the machine can be intimidating to use and you might not know the ins and outs of using it. Here’s an article that has a…
Your advisor tells you that he wants you to use HPLC to analyze your compound. You know that you’ve heard of this technique before, but you can’t remember what HPLC stands for, let alone how to go about doing it! We’ve all been there, though. Fear not! In this article, we will remind you about…
Your advisor tells you that he wants you to use HPLC to analyze your compound. You know you’ve heard of this technique before, but you can’t remember what HPLC stands for, let alone how to go about doing it! We’ve all been there, and I bet you wish you had paid more attention in that…
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