Bruker Sierra SPR-32 Pro Analyser

Major Functions / Key Features

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is an optical phenomenon in which light is being absorbed by electrons on a thin metal surface, thereby resonating the electrons and causing a reduction of light intensity and reflection at a specific angle (i.e., SPR angle). The technique is commonly used to study molecular interactions, especially protein-protein interactions. Important interaction parameters, such as binding affinities and kinetics can be measured. The main advantages of SPR-based analysis are that molecular interactions can be studied in real time, and in a label-free environment, with relatively small quantities of binding partners required compared to such other techniques as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Besides, SPR-based analysis is one of the most effective approaches for detecting highly dynamic molecular interactions, for example, interaction of secreted proteins in bacterial cells.

The Sierra SPR-32 Pro Analyser available at the ULS is a high-sensitivity, high-throughput system for SPR-based analyses. This system is equipped with a so-called SPR+ detector with improved signal-to-noise ratio and higher sensitivity for small response changes.

Specifications:

• High flexibility for experimental design: 8 injection needles to transfer samples from either 96- or 384-well microtiter plates
• High throughout: with 32 detection spots comprising 8 flow cells, each with 4 spots to analyze multiple targets and controls per injection
• Unique ‘SPR+’ detector: applying a high-intensity laser light source and high-speed camera to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio and improved detection of small response changes
• Wide choices of buffer in interaction system: up to four types of buffers can be used simultaneously
• User-friendly software for analysis: Sierra SPR control software R3 allows batch or single sensorgram viewing and data analysis to measure important interaction parameters, such as binding affinities and association/dissociation constants