Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC) Services
Part of KBI Biopharma's Rapid Analytics Biophysical Characterization Core
Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a precise and powerful tool for studying the size and shape of macromolecules in solution.
AUC is particularly important for characterizing protein aggregation and determining the native state stoichiometry (quaternary structure). AUC is also commonly used to show comparability of higher order structure (HOS).
Using the newer Beckman Optima AUC, the KBI Biopharma Rapid Analytics Biophysical Core has established a multi-wavelength approach that identifies and quantifies various fill states in viral systems like adeno-associated virus (AAV) and Adenovirus (Ad) systems for applications like gene therapy.
We have also introduced a new sedimentation equilibrium protocol that allows us to measure the weight-average mass of highly-concentrated protein formulations (up to ~200 mg/mL) requiring only ~20 µL of sample per measurement.
KBI Biopharma's Rapid Analytics Biophysical Core has completed hundreds of AUC projects on proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, viruses, and other macromolecules. All of the analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, data interpretation, and data review are done by recognized AUC experts with extensive experience in AUC applications and data analysis with many publications involving AUC.
We use six analytical centrifuges at the Rapid Analytics Biophysical Core: two Beckman-Coulter XL-I instruments equipped with both absorbance and Rayleigh interference (refractive index) detection, a Beckman-Coulter XL-A for absorbance data only, and three Beckman Optima AUCs for interference and absorbance optics. The Optima is a state-of-the-art AUC instrument with improved signal to noise, radial resolution, absorbance scanning speed, and superior absorbance wavelength selection and detection. These instruments can collect high quality data fast enough to load up a full 8-hole rotor and collect data simultaneously at multiple wavelengths. This has revolutionized our virus analysis capabilities, allowing us to identify and quantify various viral fill states.
