Our Services

Consultations and Collaborations

Active collaborations with academic groups are encouraged. Consultation on experimental design and approach is provided by Dr. Weiming Bu. Researchers can contact Weiming Bu or the collaborating crystallographers (Drs. Maria Bewley and John Flanagan) about establishing collaboration or using the X-ray facility. Crystallization trials and crystallographic studies will take place in the X-ray Lab. It is also possible for experienced investigators with their own crystals to use the facility.

Crystallization

Crystal setups are usually performed using commercially available crystallization screens. The X-ray lab will provide eleven 48-condition Hampton Screens (Crystal Screen 1, 2, Crystal screen Lite, Crystal screen Cryo, MembFac, PEG/Ion,SaltRx,Index, and Natrix), Seven 24-condition Hampton Grid Screens (MPD, PEG6000, Sodium malonate, NH4SO4, NaCl, PEG/LiCl, and Quick Screen), three 96-condition Hampton Screens(Crystal Screen HT, Index HT, and SaltRX HT), and six Nextal Suites (MPD, Class Lite, Cryos, pH clear, MbClass, and Pegs).

A Douglas Instruments Oryx6 crystallization robot is used for microbatch crystallization experiments. Microbatch screening: 5 minutes to set up a screening experiment, and 50 minutes to dispense a 96-well plate. Microbatch optimization: 15 minutes to dispense a 96-well plate.

Data Collection

Only trained users with specific permission will be allowed to operate the x-ray equipment. Use of the x-ray equipment will be scheduled in advance to meet the needs of the users. There is a per day fee for the reserved X-ray instrumentation time. Personnel training can be arranged under the X-ray lab guidelines. Authorized users will be responsible for any equipment breakage that occurs as the result of improper usage.

Structure Visualization and Analysis

Standard crystallographic software is freely accessible for use in this facility. The Facility has computer graphics workstations for display and analysis of protein structure.