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Biophysical Society 59
th
Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland
M
O
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D
A
Y
and, with super-resolution microscopy, improved the resolution of light
microscopy to up to 20 nm. Despite all these advances, fluorescence
microscopy can only show what was labelled and an EM is needed to
provide the full morphological context on the ultra-structure of the cell.
However, CLEM experiments still remain challenging and low through-
put.
Over the last years, FEI has introduced different solutions to overcome
some of the challenges in CLEM experiments and to make CLEM
experiments easier and more efficient. But correlative experiments are
rapidly evolving – here, we will present updates on latest developments
that have pushed the boundaries of correlative experiments.
Presenter
Meike Pedersen, Product Application Specialist, FEI Company
8:30
am
–10:30
am
, R
oom
333
CPOW Committee Meeting
9:30
am
–11:00
am
, H
all
C, R
oom
A
Exhibitor Presentation
Pall ForteBio LLC
Measuring Engineered Changes in Binding Affinity with the BLItz®
Label-Free System
Combining Organic Synthesis and Directed Evolution to Design Glycocluster
HIV Vaccine Candidates
We will describe a new method for design of carbohydrate HIV vaccines,
which combines organic synthesis and directed evolution techniques. This
work originates from the observation that some HIV positive individuals
produce antibodies which are broadly neutralizing and protective against
HIV infection. One such antibody, 2G12, recognizes and binds to a
cluster of carbohydrates on the viral envelope protein gp120. Our goal is
to develop synthetic carbohydrate clusters which closely mimic the viral
carbohydrate cluster, and which might thus elicit a 2G12-like antibody
response when used as a vaccine. In order to design carbohydrate clusters
which closely mimic gp120, we have developed evolution-based strategies,
in which immobilized 2G12 is used to recognize and fish out the best
glycocluster mimics of gp120 from amongst large libraries of ~10 trillion
different glycosylated peptide- or DNA structures. The glycocluster
structures obtained by these methods are recognized by antibody 2G12
as strongly as is the viral protein itself, and are thus of great interest for
vaccine studies.
Tips and Tricks for Developing BLItz Assays
The BLItz label-free assay system is a simple-to-use benchtop instrument
for measuring binding interactions of antibodies and proteins using as
little as 4µl of sample. Additional case studies of how the BLItz system is
being used to qualify biophysical models will be presented, along with tips
and tricks for developing kinetics assays on the BLItz system.
Presenters
Isaac Krauss, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Brandeis University
Craig Tin, Senior Product Manager, Pall Forte Bio LLC
10:00
am
–11:00
am
, R
oom
301/302/303
Career Center Workshop
Ten Tough Industrial Interview Questions
(and Ten Pretty Good Responses)
You’ve been invited to interview with that drug development company
that you’ve always wanted to work for. You’ve soaked up the details of the
position description. You are confident in your ability to do the job, as
well as answer any/all technical questions during the interview process.
The day is yours…until…that first question catches you by surprise
and your confidence begins to wilt. Be prepared for those non-technical
questions that you will almost certainly hear at some point, know why
they are asked, and learn what a good (if not great) response to each
question might be by attending this workshop.
10:00
am
–5:00
pm
, H
all
C
Biomolecular Discovery Dome
Visit this 3-D portable Dome, sponsored by the Public Affairs Committee,
to see how difficult biophysical topics can be made accessible to high
school students and the public. Short videos that communicate the
excitement of looking at macromolecular complexes and understanding
the molecular basis for life are being shown throughout the week.
10:00
am
–5:00
pm
, H
all
C
Exhibits
10:15
am
–11:00
am
, H
all
C
Coffee Break
10:15
am
–11:15
am
, R
oom
327/328/329
New Member Welcome Coffee
All new Biophysical Society members are invited to participate in
an informal gathering to meet members of the Society’s council and
committees, find out about the Society’s activities, get acquainted with
other new members, and enjoy refreshments. Current members are
encouraged to come meet the new members.
10:30
am
–12:00
pm
, H
all
C, R
oom
B
Exhibitor Presentation
Molecular Devices LLC
Performing Positive Allosteric Modulator (PAM) Assays and
Investigating Use-Dependent Inhibition of Ion Channels on
Automated Electrophysiology Systems Including the IonFlux
TM
Benchtop Reader and the IonWorks Barracuda
®
Instrument
PAM Assays
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been extensively
studied due to their importance in physiological processes as well
as involvement in several muscle and neuronal human pathologies,
and are major therapeutic targets for pharmaceutical drug discovery.
Ensemble recordings on the IonFlux HT System were validated with
human hnAChR recombinant cell lines developed by Eurofins Discovery
Services. Response properties of the nAChRs to the endogenous ligand
acetylcholine (ACh), reference agonists, antagonists and positive allosteric
modulators (PAMs) were characterized and will be presented.
Ion Channel Use-Dependence
Use-dependent inhibition of ion channels by potential drug candidates
is an important aspect to investigate for many drug classes. Data will
be presented to demonstrate the ability of automated electrophysiology
systems to study the use-dependence block of Na+ channel targets by
peptide toxins and known compounds. We will demonstrate the ability
of the IonWorks Barracuda system to deliver complex voltage protocols
and generate long assay windows which are required for these studies.
Pulse trains delivered at 10Hz are used to measure the blockade of current.
These experiments demonstrate stable assay windows with uniform
currents for 30 minutes and longer during the delivery of periodic pulse
trains.
Presenter
James Costantin, Product Marketing Manager, Automated
Electrophysiology, Molecular Devices LLC