NeuroTimone Interactome Platform "PINT" - Microcalorimetry Platform

Since the beginning of the 1980s, the Biophysics Department, thanks to professors Claudette Briand, Aimé Crevat and Jean Claude Sari, has been a pioneer and has acquired considerable experience in the field of Biological Microcalorimetry, which allows the study of the thermodynamics of molecular interactions and the stability of macromolecules. This expertise was developed over the years in a CNRS and then Inserm unit, notably through the study of the molecular mechanisms of action of cephalosporins, anti-cancer agents such as methotrexate, Vinca alkaloids or taxanes, gyrase or Calmodulin. 35 years later, with the support of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the PIT2 proteomic platform, and a Marie Curie European funding (IIF#627524), the Timone Microcalorimetry Platform was created within CRO2 team 2. It is now located in the 3rd floor of the Faculty of Medicine, on the Timone site, and is equipped with 3 microcalorimeters: ITC200, VP-ITC and PEAQDSC allowing both isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and scanning temperature calorimetry (DSC) studies, as well as a nanoDSF NT.Plex since February 2017.

The ITC allows to characterize intermolecular interactions by obtaining their complete thermodynamic profile: affinity constant, stoichiometry, enthalpy and entropy.

DSC and DSF allow to determine the thermostability (5-120 °C) of proteins, DNA, micelles ... which gives notably indications on the tertiary structure of molecules and molecular interactions. The nanoDSF by the use of capillaries can also be used to screen interactions.

This platform is open to the community of academic and industrial researchers.

This platform is also developing its own research activity with a fundamental component focusing on the study of the Microtubular Interactome and a tanslational component focusing on the development of a diagnostic tool for central nervous system diseases.