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

The ÀTKApurifier system will be predominantly used for the purification of protein, protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes to investigate the pathways and methodologies of RNA metabolism from the halophilic archaea. The ÀTKA systems have been the standard for protein purification FPLC systems since the first systems produced thirty years ago.  The ÀTKApurifier system is a versatile system which can be used for multiple purification techniques, and has the simplicity of operation which makes it accessible to  users of all skill levels.   Acquisition of the equipment will allow us to continue to train these students in modern chromatographic techniques and produce the required purified complexes for research into the pathways of mRNA metabolism to occur.  An advantage at small institutions such as UNBC is that undergraduate students have unparalleled access to faculty and their research.  This means that many undergraduate students at UNBC will have access to and be trained in the chromatographic techniques, stimulating their interest in pursuing graduate programs at UNBC and elsewhere.