# Protein Production Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA · 2020 · $166,916

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY (Protein Production Core)
The Protein Production Core (PPC) serves as research support for the Oklahoma COBRE in Structural Biology
(OCSB). It is a state-of the art facility for the expression and purification of protein for OCSB-supported
researchers and the wider structural biology community. The PPC produces high quality proteins in a reliable
and efficient manner on a fee-for-service basis and provides hands-on-training and expert advice in all aspects
of protein expression and purification available in the facility. The PPC staff consists of a Director, Dr. Philip
Bourne and a Graduate Student training position. The graduate student typically assists in the PPC for a
semester. They are trained by the PPC director to use all of the equipment in the facility and assist in the day-
to-day activities of the PPC. The PPC is guided by an advisory committee comprised of one junior and two
senior faculty researchers. The PPC facility was established using OCSB Phase I funding. Milestones
achieved during this period included: (i) renovation of laboratory space to create a stand-alone secure core
facility, (ii) establishing the facility with modern instrumentation for protein expression and purification, and (iii)
development of a user base. The user base has grown to twenty two research groups, including over 65
individual PPC users. Progress has been demonstrated by evidence of increased productivity of the user base
i.e., publications and grant support.
The PPC works closely with the investigators and the OCSB-supported Macromolecular Crystallography
Laboratory (MCL) to produce homogeneous, highly purified protein for crystallization trials. The PPC is
equipped with instrumentation and expertise frequently not found within individual research laboratories.
Equipment housed in the PPC includes two refrigerated medium pressure chromatography systems and a
large selection of columns for different purification techniques (affinity, hydrophobic, ion-exchange, and size
exclusion). Other core equipment includes: an Emulsiflex-C3 homogenizer for lysis of yeast and bacterial
cells; a high performance Avanti centrifuge, two freezers (-80 °C and -20 °C), and a BioRad ChemiDoc imager
that detects UV, white and chemiluminescence.
During the proposed Phase II of the OCSB, planned expansion of the PPC includes the addition of a low
pressure chromatography system to ease the burden on the two medium pressure systems and expand the
protein purification throughput of the facility. The addition of a small self-contained Dynamic Light Scattering
instrument will allow for assessing the quality of samples prior to crystallization trials. This addition is ideal for
a multi-user facility where a quick assessment of sample quality prior to crystallization experiments would be
extremely useful. The increased protein production capacity and the expanded biophysical characterization
will meet the existing demand and will help expand the user base. The larger u...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9934239
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103640-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip Charles Bourne
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $166,916
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9934239

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9934239, Protein Production Core (5P20GM103640-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9934239. Licensed CC0.

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