Biophysical Methods for Protein Interactions Workshop 2025

Workshop Description

This workshop will review the strategies of hydrodynamic and thermodynamic analytical methods for the characterization of biological macromolecules and their interactions in solution. We will discuss theoretical and practical aspects of sedimentation equilibrium and sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAX), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass photometry (MP).

This week-long workshop will start on Monday, May 12th at 8:30am and end on Friday, May 16th at 5pm. We will provide an introduction into the experimental aspects of AUC, DLS, and ITC, including the operation of the instruments, choice of buffers, selection of the detection systems, and the experimental design appropriate for the system under study. For the AUC, the assembly of the AUC cells and the operation of the XLA/I analytical ultracentrifuge will be discussed in detail. Over the course of the workshop advanced aspects of other biophysical methods, including theory, data analysis, and experimental strategy will be discussed. These lectures will be accompanied by practical computer exercises with the data analysis software.

Participant’s presentations of their systems of interest and an informal discussion of their data will be an integral part of the workshop.

Target Audience

This workshop is aimed at researchers with at least basic experience in the applications of AUC, DLS, ITC, SPR/BLI, and/or fluorescence techniques for the characterization of biomacromolecules.

Workshop Organizing Committee

Grzegorz Piszczek, Ph.D.  
Biophysics Core, NHLBI, NIH

Huaying Zhao, Ph.D.  
Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, NIBIB, NIH

Faculty

Chad Brautigam, Ph.D.

Department of Biophysics, UTSW Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

Rodolfo Ghirlando, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDDK, NIH

Alexander Grishaev, Ph.D.

UMD/NIST Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research

Grzegorz Piszczek, Ph.D.

Biophysics Core, NHLBI, NIH

Peter Schuck, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, NIBIB, NIH

Huaying Zhao, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, NIBIB, NIH