MicroCal Systems: Titration Calorimeter

Ultrasensitive microcalorimetry provides fundamental information on thermodynamics in biomolecular interaction and stability analyses. This information helps scientists understand how biomolecules function, and why there are stable. Calorimetry data can be used to design new drugs, or to engineer proteins of higher stability or modified function. MicroCal Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) instruments are designed and optimized for analysis of biomolecules in solution and are widely used at major pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and government institutions worldwide.

Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC)
Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) is a widely used method in quantitative studies of biomolecular interactions. ITC simultaneously determines binding parameters (e.g., n, K, ∆H, and ΔS) in a single experiment. When substances bind, heat is either generated or absorbed. ITC is a thermodynamic technique that directly measures the heat released or absorbed during a biomolecular binding event.

ITC Applications:

• Characterization of molecular interactions of small molecules, proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, lipids and other biomolecules
• Lead optimization
• Enzyme kinetics
• Assessment of the effect of molecular structure changes on binding mechanisms
• Assessment of biological activity

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
A new level of productivity for stability studies Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a powerful analytical tool for characterizing the stability of proteins and other  biomolecules. DSC directly measures the enthalpy (ΔH) and temperature (Tm) of thermally induced structural transitions in solution. This information gives valuable insights into factors that stabilize or destabilize proteins, and other macromolecular systems, alone or as complexes. This information can be used to predict shelf lives, develop purification strategies, screen formulation conditions and characterize protein constructs.

MicroCal DSC systems are designed to provide:
• Selection of the most stable engineered antibody
• Selection for the most stable protein storage conditions
• Identification of the optimal elution conditions in antibody purification

MicroCal VP-Capillary DSC System provides high throughput and sensitivity in an automated, integrated platform. The software streamlines the workflow with simplified experiment setup and flexible instrument scheduling and reduces the data analysis bottleneck with automated data analysis and improved data sorting. The automated data analysis features can reduce data analysis of a typical experiment from days to hours. All the features in MicroCal VP-Capillary DSC - automation, high sensitivity, minimal assay development time, and automated data analysis capabilities – result in highly reproducible results, as well as confident conclusions and decision making.