University of California

Joseph M Jaklevic

Earl Cornell

Raymond C Stevens

Robert A Nordmeyer

Derek T Yegian

Bernard D Santarsiero

Peter G Schultz

William F Kolbe

Jian Jin

Gyorgy Snell

Anthony D Hansen

Thomas N Earnest

Carl W Cork

Peter G Shultz

Arthur L Jones

Donald C Uber

Earl W Cornell

A method is provided for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising: forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter; storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array; and detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops by taking images of the drops.

Automated method for setting up multiple crystallization experiments in submicroliter volumes

A method is provided for forming crystallization experiments for a molecule, the method comprising forming a plurality of crystallization experiments that comprise a molecule to be crystallized and a composition that varies among the plurality of crystallization experiments, the crystallization experiments having a volume less than 1 microliter, the volumes of the plurality of crystallization experiments varying among the experiments by less than 25 nL.

Method for performing submicroliter crystallization experiments with high experiment to experiment precision

Method for performing high density submicroliter crystallization experiments

A method is provided for performing crystallization experiments for a molecule, the method comprising performing a plurality of crystallization experiments where the crystallization experiments have volumes of less than 1 microliter, the crystallization experiments comprising a molecule to be crystallized and a composition that varies among the plurality of crystallization experiments detecting crystal formation in the crystallization experiments.

Method for performing submicroliter crystallization experiments

A method and apparatus for the transportation, remote and unattended mounting, and visual alignment and monitoring of protein crystals for synchrotron generated x-ray diffraction analysis. The protein samples are maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures at all times: during shipment, before mounting, mounting, alignment, data acquisition and following removal. The samples must additionally be stably aligned to within a few microns at a point in space. The ability to accurately perform these tasks remotely and automatically leads to a significant increase in sample throughput and reliability for high-volume protein characterization efforts. Since the protein samples are placed in a shipping-compatible layered stack of sample cassettes each holding many samples, a large number of samples can be shipped in a single cryogenic shipping container.

Integrated crystal mounting and alignment system for high-throughput biological crystallography

A method is provided for characterizing a crystal structure of a molecule, the method comprising performing a plurality of crystallization experiments where the crystallization experiments have volumes of less than 1 microliter, the crystallization experiments comprising a molecule to be crystallized and a composition that varies among the plurality of crystallization experiments and diffracting a crystal formed in one of the crystallization experiments.

Method for diffracting crystals formed by submicroliter crystallization experiments

Method for screening microcrystallizations for crystal formation

A method is provided for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule. The method comprises forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop containing a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 &mgr;L; storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array; and detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops.

Methods and apparatus for performing array microcrystallizations

A thermal cycling system and method of use are described. The thermal cycling system is based on the-circulation of temperature-controlled water directly to the underside of thin-walled polycarbonate microtiter plates. The water flow is selected from a manifold fed by pumps from heated reservoirs. The plate wells are loaded with typically 15-20 .mu.l of reagent mix for the PCR process. Heat transfer through the thin polycarbonate is sufficiently rapid that the contents reach thermal equilibrium with the water in less than 15 seconds. Complete PCR amplification runs of 40 three-step cycles have been performed in as little as 14.5 minutes, with the results showing substantially enhanced specificity compared to conventional technology requiring run times in excess of 100 minutes. The plate clamping station is designed to be amenable to robotic loading and unloading of the system. It includes a heated lid, thus eliminating the need for mineral oil overlay of the reactants. The present system includes three or more plate holder stations, fed from common reservoirs but operating with independent switching cycles. The system can be modularly expanded.

Growing community of inventors

Lafayette, CA, United States of America

Joseph M Jaklevic