Applications of thin-film sandwich crystallization platforms

DOI: 10.1107/S2053230X16004386

Authors: Danny Axford (Diamond Light Source) , Pierre Aller (Diamond Light Source) , Juan Sanchez-Weatherby (Diamond Light Source) , James Sandy (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Acta Crystallographica Section F Structural Biology Communications , VOL 72 (4) , PAGES 313 - 319

State: Published (Approved)
Published: April 2016

Abstract: Examples are shown of protein crystallization in, and data collection from, solutions sandwiched between thin polymer films using vapour-diffusion and batch methods. The crystallization platform is optimal for both visualization and in situ data collection, with the need for traditional harvesting being eliminated. In wells constructed from the thinnest plastic and with a minimum of aqueous liquid, flash-cooling to 100 K is possible without significant ice formation and without any degradation in crystal quality. The approach is simple; it utilizes low-cost consumables but yields high-quality data with minimal sample intervention and, with the very low levels of background X-ray scatter that are observed, is optimal for microcrystals.

Journal Keywords: Protein crystallization devices; in situ X-ray analysis; crystallization; crystal visual inspection; diffraction data collection.

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Technique Development


Instruments: I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography

Added On: 31/03/2016 11:42

Documents:
nj5248.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Technique Development - Life Sciences & Biotech Structural biology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)