ESC5: Label-free techniques for the characterization of protein interactions

Description of the course:

The course will be focused on the application of label-free biophysical techniques iTC, MST, and DSF for the characterization of protein interactions and will combine both theoretical and practical content.

Outline of the course:

The course will start on Wednesday 3^rd of May afternoon and end on Friday 5^th of May afternoon.

Day 1

Lunch
Lecture 1:       Introduction to iTC: principles and experimental design
Lecture 2:       Principles of MST technique, Label-Free MST, Differential scanning fluorimetry technique
Tour of the Centre of Molecular Structure facilities.

Day 2

Hands-on workshop in two groups of 5 participants.
1^st group – iTC
2^nd group – LF MST, DSF

Lunch

1^st group – LF MST, DSF
2^nd group – iTC

Day 3

Troubleshooting, data analysis, questions.
~ 1.5 hour 1^st group – iTC; 2^nd group – LF MST, DSF,
next 1.5 hours 1^st group – LF MST, DSF; 2^nd group – iTC.

Lunch.

Other details:

Participants will receive partial financial support to attend the course, including economy travel, lunches, dinners and 2 nights of accommodation with breakfast (accommodation will be booked by the organizers). Ten travel bursaries of a maximum 300 euros each will be offered to cover travel costs. Successful applicants will be informed of the eligible expenses when they receive a formal acceptance letter.

Download a pdf version of a flyer for this course via the link below:

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The MOSBRI End user Short Course, Label-free techniques for the characterisation of protein interactions, was held at Institute of Biotechnology of AS CR, Vestec, Czech Republic (MoB-IBT), in May 2023.

10 participants attended the MOSBRI course (ESC5).

This short training course was focused on the application of label-free biophysical techniques, such as Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (iTC), Label-Free Microscale Thermophoresis (LF MST), and Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) and Mass Photometry (MP) on the characterization of protein interactions. The course was aimed at researchers with little experience, who want to acquire new skills in the application of label-free biophysical methods to characterize macromolecular interactions. The course comprised of lectures devoted to the fundamentals of iTC, MST, DSF, and MP and experimental design considerations, followed by practical sessions, where participants were welcome to bring their samples to the course, and data analysis.

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Course programme

Wednesday 3^rd May 2023

12:30 – 12:50	Arrival, coffee
12:50 – 13:00	Introduction Jan Dohnálek
13:00 – 14:00	Lecture 1: Introduction to iTC: principles Tatsiana Charnavets
14:00 – 14-20	Coffee break
14:20 – 15-00	Lecture 2: Introduction to iTC: experimental design Tatsiana Charnavets
15:00 – 16:00	Lecture 3: Principles of MST techniques, label-free MST Josef Houser
	Differential scanning fluorimetry technique Josef Houser
16:00 – 16:20	Coffee break
16:20 – 17:50	Tour of the Centre of Molecular Structure Charnavets, Stránský, Pavlíček, Pompach, Trundová
19:00	Dinner Šalanda – Pankrác

Thursday 4^th May 2023

9:30 – 10:00	Arrival, coffee
10:00 – 13:00	Hands-on workshop in two groups of five participants
	1st group – iTC Tatsiana Charnavets
	2nd group – LF MST, DSF Eva Paulenová
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch break + coffee
14:00 – 17:00	Hands-on workshop in two groups of five participants
	1st group – LF MST, DSF Eva Paulenová
	2nd group – iTC Tatsiana Charnavets

Friday 5^th May 2023

9:30 – 10:00	Arrival, coffee
10:00 – 11:00	Work in two groups of five participants
	1st group – Review of techniques for the measurements of molecular interaction, iTC troubleshooting, questions Tatsiana Charnavets
	2nd group – Interaction determination by Mass photometry, data analysis, questions Jan Stránský
11:00-12:00	Work in two groups of five participants
	1st group – Interaction determination by Mass photometry, data analysis, questions Jan Stránský
	2nd group – Review of techniques for the measurements of molecular interaction, iTC troubleshooting, questions Tatsiana Charnavets

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Course material

 

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Application to take part in the course

The course is limited to 10 participants and therefore any interested parties will need to submit an application for consideration to take part.

Who is eligible to apply:

Anyone with a workplace/host institution in one of the EU member or associated states may apply to attend this course (this includes people from the UK). Applicants from industry are also welcome. It is expected that the applicant has at least a basic knowledge of molecular biology, chemistry and/or biophysics and that it is applicable to their area of research/work. Applications from scientists in the early-stage of their career are particularly encouraged and we will strive to obtain a gender balance of the participants in the course.

How to apply:

When to apply:

It is no longer possible to apply for this course. The applications received are under review and applicants will be informed once a decision has been made.

Application deadline:

The deadline for submission of an application to participate in this course was the: 12^th March 2023.