Analytical ultracentrifugation: a powerful 'new' technology in drug discovery

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a powerful means of characterizing the solution behavior of molecules. Sedimentation velocity analysis, the preferred AUC technique for characterizing complex systems, has higher resolution, broader applicable range and fewer solute/solvent limitations than gel-permeation chromatography. The technique is simple to perform and should become a mainstay for target identification, target validation, lead optimization, formulation in drug development and QA/QC. Recent studies have used AUC to characterize the binding stoichiometry and binding sites of an anti-tumor agent; of a hemoglobin-stabilizing protein, and of a fibril growth inhibitor, and to assess the causes of protein aggregation. The recent addition of fluorescence to the existing absorbance and interference detectors dramatically extends the flexibility of analytical ultracentrifugation.: