Semi-automated microseeding of nanolitre crystallization experiments

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2008 Jan 1;64(Pt 1):14-8. doi: 10.1107/S1744309107057260. Epub 2007 Dec 20.

Abstract

A simple semi-automated microseeding procedure for nanolitre crystallization experiments is described. Firstly, a microseed stock solution is made from microcrystals using a Teflon bead. A dilution series of this microseed stock is then prepared and dispensed as 100 nl droplets into 96-well crystallization plates, facilitating the incorporation of seeding into high-throughput crystallization pipelines. This basic microseeding procedure has been modified to include additive-screening and cross-seeding methods. Five examples in which these techniques have been used successfully are described.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Automation
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Genomics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Proteomics
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Viral Proteins