Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Understanding the complex processes that regulate how cells function frequently requires being able to separate the various constituents that comprise a cell. For example, the ability to separate the membrane fraction of cells from the soluble fraction, or various membrane compartments (e.g. nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum) from each other allows researchers to investigate how these structures are changed as a result of metabolic processes. Researchers also frequently need to purify individual cellular or viral protein complexes (e.g. ribosomes, virus particles) or even individual proteins. The best way to achieve these goals is using ultracentrifugation, where disrupted cells are centrifuged at high forces of gravity allowing the separation of cell constituents based on their relative size or density. The requested equipment is the newest version of a benchtop ultracentrifuge that will replace our existing centrifuge that is over 20 years old and no longer dependable. This equipment upgrade will provide a large group of researchers and their trainees with the necessary equipment needed to pursue a diverse range of investigations aimed at understanding how cells function.