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INSPIRED: The National Research Infrastructure on Integrated Structural Biology, Drug Screening Efforts and Drug target functional characterization
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The National Research Infrastructure on Integrated Structural Biology, Drug Screening Efforts and Drug target functional characterization
INSPIRED is functioning as a national distributed RI perfectly aligned with the EU infrastructure. A group of 14 academic and research institutions across the country are involved and each member addresses different aspects of Structural Biology (https://www.inspired-ris.gr).
INSPIRED, will offer a complete set of platforms (techniques) for the integrated Structural Biology research process comprising sample preparation, biophysical characterization, structural analysis, functional analysis & pharmacogenomics, with the aim to deliver solutions to academic and industrial users, driven by the national/regional needs for innovative services and products (https://inspired-ris.catalogue.athenarc.gr).
INSPIRED consists a dynamic infrastructure of complementary core centers of excellence
The Biotechnology Unit
The Biotechnology Unit of the HPI has extensive know-how on the production of soluble and membrane bound proteins in heterologous expression systems for structural and functional studies and is a member of the INSPIRED research infrastructure (https://www.inspired-ris.gr/).
The currently available expression systems include:
- Heterologous expression of soluble/membrane proteins in bacterial, yeast (Pichia pastoris), protozoan (Leishmania tarentolae), insect & mammalian cell systems. It is noteworthy that the Unit has the expertise in using the sophisticated system of mammalian Expi293F cells which ensures rapid and high-yield protein production from high density suspension culture.
- Phage display & hybridoma technologies that focuses on developing highly specific monoclonal antibodies or peptides for research, diagnostic and therapeutic use.
- Recombinant viruses and viral transduction systems.
- Large-scale production of soluble and membrane proteins expressed in yeast and bacteria cells in the HPI fermenter unit.
Expressed recombinant proteins can be processed / purified through affinity, size exclusion or ion exchange chromatography.
H.P.I. participates in INSPIRED-RIs with the following infrastructure:
- The Biotechnology Unit (as described above)
- Biophysical characterization
- Structural analysis
- In silico analysis and drug design
The existing facilities are:
For protein characterization
- Size, mass and polydispersity of purified proteins (assessed by DLS) before crystallization trials.
- Functional characterization.
For structural analysis
- Protein crystallization (crystallization robot) & 3D structure determination.
- Modelling and simulation of biological macromolecules.
The infrastructure of the INSPIRED-H.P.I. Node is presented at the following link: