Biophysics of Macromolecules
It is dedicated to the biochemical and biophysical characterization of macromolecules like proteins and enzymes, and nanopolymers, such as nanocellulose and lignin derivatives. With the use of the facility techniques, it is possible to evaluate and select potential proteins with compatible characteristics (such as pH and temperature) for application in bioprocesses, mainly aiming at optimizing the production of biofuels and other products. Besides all the infrastructure for biophysical and biochemical characterization of macromolecules that is of most relevance for industrial applications, this facility has instrumental equipment for fine enzymology that involves specificity studies and mechanisms of action.
Main skills and experimental techniques:
- Determination of the structural and thermostability composition of macromolecules;
- Characterization of fluorescence, phosphorescence, bio, and chemiluminescence of macromolecules;
- Carbohydrate profile and determination of cleavage patterns by CAZymes (carbohydrate-active enzymes);
- Hydrodynamic and charge behavior of macromolecules;
- Determination of enzymatic parameters.
The facility has a dynamic light scattering equipment (DLS Malvern Zetasizer), capable of investigating the structural homogeneity of molecules in solution. The facility is also equipped with a circular dichroism spectropolarimeter (Jasco J-815), capable of determining the composition of the secondary structure of macromolecules, in addition to investigating thermostability. This facility also has spectrofluorimeter, Cary Eclipse, and Tecan Infinite Microplate Reader, for characterization of intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence, phosphorescence, bio, and chemiluminescence of macromolecules, in addition to a capillary electrophoresis system for studies of the profile of carbohydrates from hydrolysis by glycosidic enzymes.
Start of operation: in 2014 and 2015 for external users.
The facility changed its name in 2023 from MAC – Macromolecules to BFM – Biophysics of Macromolecules.