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History of Microarrays

Microarrays are a two-dimensional arrangement of biological samples, with samples placed in spots numbering in the thousands and organized into columns and rows. They allow for efficient analysis of genetic material and the most common type, DNA microarrays, have been utilized for large-scale studies of gene expression. The history of microarrays follows a path that links the groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA to contemporary studies of genetics.

14 Dec 2017

Cell-Matrix Adhesion Overview

Tissue structures are determined by both cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix adhesion, with the latter describing interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is the collection of collagen fibers, proteoglycans and multi-adhesive matrix proteins that are secreted by cells to form an essential support structure.

14 Dec 2017

FRET: Applications in Biology

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a mechanism of energy transfer that is widely utilized in biological experiments such as molecular structure examination. It is often referred to as a “spectroscopic ruler,” due to its nature wherein the distance between two fluorophores is determined as the ratio of fluorescence intensities.

13 Dec 2017

Homo FRET for Molecular Biology, Insulin Research and Proteomics

Homo FRET is a non-radiative transfer between two similar probes that display an intersection of emission and absorption spectra.

13 Dec 2017

History of Single Molecule Experiments

Single-molecule experiments guide in identifying key factors that determine the behavior of biomolecules.

12 Dec 2017

GFP Derivatives: CFP and YFP

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a bioluminescent polypeptide protein that is extracted from jellyfish (Aequorea victoria). A protein, known as aequorin, in Aequorea Victoria exposes blue light when it binds with calcium. GFP completely absorbs this blue light and emits it as a green light.

11 Dec 2017

Cryo-Electron Tomography

Electron cryotomography (ECT, also known as cryo-electron tomography, cryo-ET) is a 3D imaging technique that can analyze the structure of complex and varied biological assemblies in their native conditions at nanometer resolution. The sample preparation in this technique does not require separation of proteins and other macromolecular complexes from their native environment.

8 Dec 2017

Coupling and Ionization in Miniature Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is mainly involved in analysis of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and large quantity of ions traveling at high speed in vacuum. It is one of the most powerful tools used in investigation of the structure and composition of matter.

7 Dec 2017

History of Cell Reprogramming

Cell reprogramming is the process used for converting cells from one particular type to another. Over the past six decades, many techniques have been developed to define induced pluripotency.

7 Dec 2017

Epitranscriptome Sequencing Technologies

An epitranscriptome is a set of functionally appropriate RNA modifications. There are nearly one hundred known modifications of RNA; the most common modification in internal mRNA is N6-methyladenosine (m6A). Transfer RNAs (tRNAs), mRNAs, and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) are the three types of RNAs that are post-transcriptionally modified.

6 Dec 2017

Extending the Capabilities of TEM

Electron microscopes are tools of paramount importance for scientists in the field of life science and material science. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a microscopy technique that uses electrons instead of light to produce detailed images of the structure of elements.

6 Dec 2017

Cryo-Electron Microscopy Techniques

The term “cryo-electron microscopy” (abbreviated as “cryo-EM”) is used in a large number of experimental methods. It works on the principle of imaging the radiation-sensitive samples by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) under low temperature conditions.

5 Dec 2017

Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Pharmaceuticals

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is a technique which involves the sensitive measurement of the difference in the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of an analyte and that of a reference (such as an empty aluminium pan) as a function of temperature, whilst keeping both at almost the same temperature as each other.

5 Dec 2017

Countercurrent chromatography

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) can be defined as "a technique of chromatographic separation based on the partition of solutes between two different liquid phases that does not get mixed together. The two phases are mobile phase and stationary phase (the support-free liquid)".

4 Dec 2017

Chiral Column Chromatography

Chiral column chromatography makes use of the concept of chirality. Chirality relates to study of the three-dimensional structure of molecules. The term comes from the Greek root chir-, hand, and means “handedness.” Chiral molecules show a left- and right-handed nature. They exist as mirror image forms that cannot be made to overlap byrotation. Molecules showing chirality rotate the plane of polarized light. The degree of rotation is called specific rotation or optical rotation.

30 Nov 2017

Challenges with Sanger Sequencing

Sanger sequencing is a method of sequencing DNA developed by Frederick Sanger in 1977. In Sanger sequencing, chain-terminating dideoxynucleotides are incorporated into the growing DNA chain at random positions. The sequence is then inferred from the set of incrementally terminated DNA chains separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. More recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) has begun to replace Sanger sequencing, primarily because it is able to sequence millions of DNA fragments simultaneously, compared to only 384 for Sanger sequencing.

30 Nov 2017

Protein and Peptide Microarray

Protein and peptide microarrays, the emerging tools for proteomics and clinical assays, are high-throughput methods that track binding events and activities, and decide the function of proteins on a large scale. Microarrays find their place in epitope mapping and serodiagnostic applications.

29 Nov 2017

Challenges of Protein Complex Analysis

Protein complex analysis involves extensive interpretation of the structure and function of proteins, which are present in complex biological samples. Due to this, techniques like protein complex analysis have great value in understanding the complex organisms. Though recent protein complex analysis methods are efficient in identifying the structure and of protein complex, there are some limiting factors.

29 Nov 2017

Challenges in Targeted Metabolomics

Targeted metabolomics is a quantitative approach of metabolomics as it depends on measuring the known metabolites of specific pathways. Since targeted metabolomics is a continually evolving field, it faces enormous obstacles in its widespread approach.

29 Nov 2017

Clinical Biophotonics

Biophotonics is a branch of science dealing with the interaction of light in biological substances such as tissues and cells at scales ranging from microns to the nano-level. It plays a vital role in the development of healthcare services by lowering the costs of treatment, with a suitable methodology for treatment of people in the aging society. Biophotonics consists of optics, photonics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.

28 Nov 2017