INSPIRED: The National Research Infrastructure on Integrated Structural Biology, Drug Screening Efforts and Drug target functional characterization
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: