LINKS

Product Sheet

User manual

XL User Manual 

FAQs

Crystal Harvesting Protocol

Initial Evaluation Protocol 

Smart Screen

PurePEGs Screen

Mosquito Plate Files

Whitepapers 

From screen to structure

[open pdf] 

Improved crystallization hit rates 

[open pdf] 

UV imaging

[open pdf] 

in situ testing with  PX Scanner

 [open pdf] 

Protein crystallization at the MCSG

 [open pdf] 

Imaging with the RockImager

[open pdf] 

The mixing of precipitant and protein solutions occurs primarily by diffusive equilibration based on the concentration difference established in the crystallization channel.  The channel is 10 mm in length, allowing for substantial exploration of protein phase space.  For a typical salt, precipitant equilibration will occur over a period of about 1 week, whereas larger polymers will require a longer equilibration. However, note that equilibration is not required for crystal growth, and crystals can form in anywhere from half a day to three days, or longer. Crystals are formed in the Crystal Formers, they can be harvested from the channel and used for seeding, soaking of X-ray diffraction experiments. 

Advantages

No external equipment is required

The Crystal Former can be operated with standard pipettes or liquid-handling robots.  Adter loading precipitant and protein solutions, the microfluidic architecture encourages proper mixing and separation of individual crystallization reactions.

Reaction chamber dimensions

The Crystal Former benefits from low sample consumption because of reaction volumes of 0.5 µL or less. The size of the chamber allows crystals to grow large enough for immediate X-ray diffraction studies. Furthermore, the dimensions of the chamber allow a large number of chemical conditions to be sampled while the solutions equilibrate, thus increasing the probability that crystals will be obtain during initial screening.

Optimal mixing kinetics

Although reaction chambers are large enough to facilitate the growth of usable high-quality crystals, individual reaction chambers are small enough so that viscous forces dominate.   Additionally, the mixing of precipitant and protein inside the Crystal Former allows the gentle manipulation of protein solubility.  This means that precipitant and protein solutions can mix optimally, allowing protein phase space to be thoroughly explored. 

Direct Access to crystals

The Crystal Former allows users to collect crystals grown inside the chip.  This enables collection of diffraction patterns from crystals grown in the Crystal Former without the need to repeat experiments in larger volumes, or using different techniques.  Direct access also permits a smaller crystals to be harvested for subsequent seeding experiments. 

The Original Crystal Former Chip (CF)

The Scale-Up Crystal Former Chip (CF-XL)

The High Throughput Crystal Former (CF-HT)

• 96-microchannels arranged on a plate with SBS-footprint
• Each microchannel is 100 microns x 150 microns x 10 mm
• Each channel volume is 150 nL 

SmartScreen Crystallization Screen

• 48 non-redundant conditions selected from sparse matrix screens
• Optimized for efficient crystallization screening with a minimal set of precipitant, buffer and salt combinations  

To better serve you, the SmartScreen is available in two storage formats.  MLS-1 uses a Kisker full-skirted PCR plate with 8 cap-strips providing an easy resealing method for long term storage and repetitive usage. This format isNOT compatible with the Mosquito robot. MLS-1M uses a U-bottom Greiner assay plate with heat seal specially selected for Mosquito compatibility.  Please indicate which format you prefer with your order.

PurePEGs Crystallization Screen   

• 48 crystallization conditions each containing a cocktail of PEG
• 5 polydisperse, ultrapure PEGs in equal ratios for a total PEG concentration of 25.5% (w/v)
• Greatly expands the PEG concentration gradient during diffusive mixing   

To better serve you, the SmartScreen is available in two storage formats.  MLS-1 uses a Kisker full-skirted PCR plate with 8 cap-strips providing an easy resealing method for long term storage and repetitive usage. This format isNOT compatible with the Mosquito robot. MLS-1M uses a U-bottom Greiner assay plate with heat seal specially selected for Mosquito compatibility.  Please indicate which format you prefer with your order.

SH-1 Holder   

• A snap-fit holder that adapts the 16-channel Crystal Formers to SBS-footprint 

SH-2 Holder 

• A drop-in holder that adapts the 16-channel Crystal Formers to SBS-footprint.
• This is the default holder for the MCK-7 and MCK-7P kits.

Sealing Tape  (RT-2) 

• Pre-cut, clear sealing tape strips designed to cover the sample inlets on any Crystal Former.
• Compatible with manual and automated imaging.  

Magnetic Mount (MM-CF)

• Permits mounting of the 16-channel Crystal Formers onto most standard goniometers for in situ diffraction measurements 

Ordering Information