Katri Eskelin

Novel purification and analysis methods for macromolecular complexes.

Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is a subtechnique of field-flow fractionation. It separates molecules according to differences in their diffusion coefficients, which in turn reflects their size and shape. AF4 is applicable to a broad range of molecular masses and sizes and molecules with sizes that range from 2 nm to 50 μm can be analyzed.

My research focuses on the development of optimized methods to purify large macromolecular complexes such as ribosomes (a complex of 80 ribosomal proteins and three ribosomal RNAs), viral assemblies as well as intact viruses of various sizes and morphologies. Furthermore, my research aims to use AF4 for detailed analysis of large macromolecular complexes. This can be achieved by analyzing complexes that have been treated with various chemicals, enzymes, temperatures etc.

I am combining the AF4 purification to other methods that include monolithic anion chromatography and centrifugation methods to enable large-scale purification of macromolecular complexes to detailed biochemical and structural analysis.

My previous research included studies on two different plant viruses (Cocksfoot mottle virus and Potato virus A) and applied projects on heterologous protein production in plants.