Instrumentation

Modern protein science relies on advanced instrumentation and MPS is uniquely well equipped in this regard. The conditions for X-ray crystallography, the main technique for protein structure determination, are ideal, with convenient access to MAX-lab, the National Laboratory for Synchrotron Radiation Research. MPS scientists are involved in developing and serving the X-ray crystallography beamlines, including the new experimental station for multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) experiments.

MPS scientists are also responsible for the powerful JEOL 3000SFF high-resolution (2 Å) cryo electron microscope, SWEGENEs cryo EM resource and part of the National Centre for High Resolution Electron Microscopy in Lund.

MPS operates three nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratories with seven state-of-the-art NMR instruments, including high-field (500 and 600 MHz) spectrometers equipped for high-resolution triple-resonance experiments on isotope-labeled proteins, high-power solid-state spectrometers, two custom-built field-variable magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) instruments, and a 1 Tesla field-cycling NMR system, the only instrument of its kind in Scandinavia. The six-decade frequency range available in our NMR laboratories provides unparalleled opportunities for studies of dynamic processes, as well as for protein structure determination (in solution).

In addition to these large-scale facilities, MPS is fully equipped for all aspects of modern protein research, including mass spectrometry (LC-MALDI-TOFTOF),  microcalorimetry (ITC, DSC), surface plasmon resonance (Biacore 3000), ellipsometry, chromatography, DNA sequencing, and protein engineering. We also have an optical-spectroscopy facility with linear dichroism (LD) and single-crystal capabilities, equipped with a Helium cryosystem and a high-precision redox-titration system.