High-Throughput Protein Crystallography

Abstract

An automated platform for low-volume, highthroughput protein crystallization by the sitting drop vapor diffusion has been developed. This platform consists of a novel Society of Biomolecular Screening standard microplate technology, standard automation liquid handling equipment, a software to design customizable, random crystallization buffers, an in-house designed scanner, a crystal recognition software, and Laboratory Information Management Systems. These technologies are designed to eliminate obstacles to the production of protein crystals and to address a number of critical issues faced by crystallography laboratories, namely precision and accuracy, ease of integration and use, speed, and cost.