Facilities

We have a range of facilities and equipment for different aspects of biotechnology in the Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Warwick Manufacturing Group.

Plant genetic modification (Life Sciences)

Laboratory facilities for genetic modification in Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus
Greenhouse facilities for plant science

Laboratory facilities for genetic modification in a range of microorganisms, with particular expertise in Actinomycetes, Burkholderia, methanotrophic and methylotrophic bacteria
Category 2 and 3 containment facilities for microbiological work
Proteomic lab for protein identification
Genome DNA sequencing technology

Bioinformatics capability for predictive analysis of cryptic natural product biosynthetic gene clusters
Extensive facilities for growth and genetic manipulation of a wide range of microorganisms
Several LC-MS instruments, including UHPLC – ultra high resolution mass spectrometer for comparative metabolite profiling and dereplication
Several preparative HPLC systems for natural product purification
Ultra high resolution mass spectrometer (Bruker maXis) and high sensitivity/resolution NMR instruments (including 700 MHz with cryoprobe, 600 MHz and 500 MHz) for structure elucidation

Overproduction of microbial enzymes
Fermentation technology for protein production from microbial sources
FPLC purification of recombinant proteins
Enzyme kinetic characterisation using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and radiochemical assays

Fermentation technology for chemical production from biomass
Lignin isolation from biomass
Analytical chemistry for chemical (HPLC, LC-MS) and volatile (GC-MS) identification