X-ray Crystallography Platform
X-ray crystallography is one of the most favored techniques for the determination of the atomic structure of proteins, nucleic acids and other molecules. Creative Biostructure has built this X-ray crystallography platform to provide service and scientific support to customers from both industry and academia for their structural biology projects. It offers our customers the state-of-the-art tools to identify and optimize crystallization conditions as well as X-ray diffraction data processing for any macromolecule of interest.
Figure 1. Workflow for protein structure determination using X-ray crystallography.
Platform Equipment
Our platform is equipped with highly specialized instruments for X-ray diffraction studies, including multipurpose diffractometers, nano-liter crystallization robots, high-throughput liquid handling robots and high-resolution imaging systems. With advanced equipment and our experienced crystallographers, we are able to set up crystallization experiments with a minimum amount of protein and to store and monitor crystallization trials at different conditions.
X-ray Diffractometer
The diffractometer is flexible, easy-to-use and perfect for obtaining high-quality diffraction data of the samples.
Crystallization Robot
This crystallization robot is equipped with flexible needles and can dispense from 100 nano-liters to 100 micro-liters, suitable for setting up crystallization experiments in 96-well plates.
Liquid Handling Robot
The liquid handling robot is great for composing crystallization screens from over 200 stock solutions and refining promising crystallization conditions by creating optimized follow-up screens.
Imaging System
The imaging system is ideal for storing crystals in incubators operating at different temperatures, and acquisition of image data for hanging and sitting drop experiments with high-resolution quality.
Services
By using the high-throughput crystallization method, our platform can support a non-stop pipeline including all the stages involved in the structure determination of peptides, proteins and other macromolecules as well as their complexes with small molecules and nucleic acids. Services include but are not limited to:
- Screening and optimization of crystallization conditions
- Scaled and merged diffraction data collection
- Quantitative phase analysis
- Crystal structure determination and refinement
- Ligand binding analysis (where applicable)
- Design of research projects and technical consulting
Based on the X-ray crystallography platform, our experienced scientists and specialists can cooperate with customers to assist and accelerate the research progress. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your project!
Ordering Process
References
- Sands DE (1975). Introduction to Crystallography. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
- Rhodes G (2006). Crystallography Made Crystal Clear, 3rd edition. Burlington: Academic Press.
- Rupp B (2009). Biomolecular Crystallography: Principles, Practice and Application to Structural Biology. New York: Garland Science.
