Introduction
The mission of the MPI Crystallization Facility is to provide state-of-the-art high throughput crystallization facilities for structural biologists at the Max Plank Institute of Biochemistry, as well as external users.
Services Provided by the Facility
This is a full service that offers access to sophisticated equipment and technologies, and offers a high level of quality. The facility will provide screen preparation, plate setup, automated image acquisition , and optimization design. The facility combines technological advances in new ways to automate every step along the crystallization process.
List of services/technologies provided by the Facility
- Quality control of each sample (SDS gel, Nanodrop concentation measurement and optionally a Static light scattering measurement)
- Automatic setup of up to 2400 crystallization conditions. (100 nL sitting drops)
- Optimization of crystallization conditions using robotics to prepare fine grids.
- Optimization of crystallization conditions using a library of stocks solutions.
- Storage of plates in vizualization systems in temperature controlled rooms ( 4, and 19 degrees)
- In Situ X-ray test using a PX scanner diffractometer
Facilities and Equipment
The Facility operates in the second floor of the Conti departement (K204) with the following equipment:
- Phoenix nanodispenser robot from Art Robbins Instruments capable of setting hanging drops at the rate of 96 conditions every 2 minutes.
- Tecan Evo 200 /8 to dispense solutions from commercial kits, prepare crystallization kits and generate optimization conditions.
- 2 Imaging Station based on a leica microscope and a Tecan EVO 150 (4 and 19 degrees).
- PX scanner diffractometer
Sample Preparation Requirements
The user must provide a sample suitable for crystallization: A basic requirement for macromolecular crystallization sample purity better than 98% as detected by SDS gel and/or Mass Spectroscopy. The presence of secondary bands in the gels or other contaminants will decrease the success rate. The optimal protein concentration is around 10 mg/ml but other concentrations can be accepted. The normal turn around is 24 hours. Special optimization conditions may require more time. We recommend to centrifuge the sample shortly before the crystallization trials starts.
Fee Structure
To recover the cost of chemicals, consumables and service contracts for the robotics, the following fee structure will be charged to researchers:
- Crystallization tray with 96 commercial solutions, 1 drop experiment (total= 96 conditions) 16 euros
- Crystallization tray with 96 optimization matrix 1 drop experiment (total= 96 conditions) 50 euros
- Crystallization tray with 96 additive screens, 1 drop experiment (total= 96 conditions) 25 euros
The Crystallization Facility is supported by one and half technical staff (karina Valer and Sabine Pleyer) , with oversight from Jérôme.Basquin
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