Virtual Laboratories
Cybertory: virtual molecular biology lab
Access:
Enter the virtual laboratory.
Sequence analysis - Direct link to the tools (transcription-translation, sequence pattern search, sequence massager)
Simulation of celulose acetate electrophoresis of proteins
Features:
- Electrophoresis of either serum proteins or LDH isoenzymes on cellulose acetate strips.
- Only the final result is displayed.
- Reveal serum proteins by staining with Coomassie Blue, Amido Black or Ponceau Red, or by autoradiography.
- Reveal LDH with an enzyme assay.
- A single sample per run.
- Predefined profiles, both normal and pathological, or custom profile depending on given proportion of each component.
- Automatic plot of both the band pattern on the cellulose acetate strip and its densitogram. Possibility to overlay successive densitograms in the same plot for comparison.
Possible applications:
- Clinical interpretation of serum protein profiles.
- Differential tissue profile of LDH isoenzymes.
- Clinical interpretation of LDH isoenzyme profiles.
Access:
Access the simulator
for serum proteins and
for LDH isoenzymes.
Simulation of SDS-PAGE electrophoresis of proteins
Features:
- Electrophoresis of proteins on a polyacrylamide gel with SDS; direct detection.
- Several acrylamide concentrations are available: 7.5; 10; 12 and 15%.
- 4 voltages are available to run the separation.
- One lane for standards and another for a sample.
- 7 standard proteins of known size and 10 unknown samples (with a single protein each).
- The progress of the separation is displayed.
- Automatic drawing of the calibration line and aided interpolation.
Possible applications:
- Estimation of the molecular mass of the unknown proteins.
Workbooks:
These are integrated into the simulation page:
Practice problem 1: influence of the voltage applied.
Practice problem 2: influence of the acrylamide concentration.
Practice problem 3: estimation of molecular mass of the unknown proteins.
Practice problem 4: determination of quaternary structure (I).
Practice problem 5: determination of quaternary structure (II).
Access:
Acces the simulator.
UV-VIS spectrophotometry laboratories
Simulator of ultraviolet absorption spectra for proteins and nucleic acids
Access:
Access the simulator.
Features:
- Protein and DNA absorption spectrum between 230 and 340 nm.
- Absorbance values at 260 and 280 nm, and the ratio between both.
- Predefined profiles: proteins, DNA and four mixtures.
- Custom profiles based on proportion provided for each type of molecule.
- Possible to superimpose sucessive spectra to compare them.
Applications:
- Demonstration of the analytical value of the technique for checking DNA contamination with proteins or vice versa.
Virtual UV-VIS spectrophotometer
Access:
Access the virtual laboratory.
Features:
- Absroption spectrum of diverse substances between 200 and 800 nm.
- Preparation of dilutions.
Applications:
- Relation between absorbance and concentration.
- Fundamentals of a protein quantitation assay.
- Determination of absorption spectra; search for λmax
Colorimetric assay for enzyme activity
Access:

Access the virtual laboratory.
Features:
- Enzyme activity assay.
- Effect of pH and temperature on the activity of an enzyme.
Applications:
- Search for optimal conditions for the enzyme.
Simulation of column cromatography of proteins
Features:
- Several types of stationary phase, for:
- molecular exclusion (gel filtration)
- anionic and cationic exchange
- affinity
- Analisis of samples made of 3 proteins.
- Choose among 13 predefined proteins or proteins with user-provided properties (Mr, pI).
- Shows progress of the protein bands along the column as well as así recording of chromatogram (absorbance versus elution volume).
Possible applications:
- To illustrate the mechanism of separation on each type of matrix. Effect of pH on ion exchange.
- Assay of conditions for resolution of proteins in a sample (for example, for analysis or for purification).
Access:
Access the simulator.
Working plans:
Project: design of problem-solving activities using the simulator.
Other labs
These are ready but not yet translated into English. You can check the Spanish versions or, if you are interested on them,
for setting an English translation.
- More UV-VIS spectrophotometric assays:
- Forms of hemoglobin.
- Plant pigments.
- With calibration curve: glucose, proteins (Lowry), creatinine.
- Kinetic measurement: gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase.
- MTT metabolic viability (on 24-well plates)
- Ketone bodies (on reactive strips)
- Circular dichroism spectra of proteins.
- Ion exchange chromatography to measure % HbA1c.
- Thin-layer chromatoraphy (amino acis, lipids, plant pigments)