Integrated high throughput biological crystallography systems for structural genomics system accelerates the process of growing diffraction-quality protein crystals
At the 2004 Pittsburgh Conference in Chicago, Bruker AXS announced an expanded set of integrated tools to produce protein crystal structures at an accelerated pace.
The Crystal Farm imaging system simplifies and automates protein crystallisation by integrating incubation at chosen temperatures together with optical imaging of the crystal growth plates at pre-scheduled intervals.
This accelerates the process of growing diffraction-quality protein crystals.
Daniel Frankel, product manager for life science business development, stated: "Automation of the protein crystallisation process is an exciting advance in our field.
"We are pleased with the interest in the Crystal Farm by the pharmaceutical and structural genomics communities in North America.
"Our recent installation of a Crystal Farm at the University of Zurich is helping this technology gain momentum in Europe as well". Crystals harvested from the Crystal Farm are then characterised using a Bruker AXS Proteum X-ray system.
For high-throughput applications, this includes the latest high-brilliance Microstar X-ray source, a highly sensitive and fast readout Proteum CCD detector, as well as a Bruno robotic sample handler.
The system is driven by the Proteum software suite, which contains new modules for determining crystal quality.
The Proteum suite provides a simple, robust interface for automated sample screening and data collection.
Matthew Benning, senior applications scientist for protein crystallography, explained: "The Bruno robot provides a highly efficient method for evaluating crystals.
"It enables fast and reliable sample handling under cryogenic conditions.
"The Proteum automation, bright source and fast detector allow for quick and accurate data acquisition for crystallography".
A complete system, including Crystal Farm, Bruno and a Proteum with Microstar, will be delivered shortly to the structural genomics consortium at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Professor George Phillips Jr states: "The University of Wisconsin's Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics is pleased to be working directly with Bruker AXS on the further development of high-throughput protein crystallography.
"Our co-location in Madison and the strengths of both sides of the collaboration make this an endeavor that will yield mutual benefits and produce better current and future applications for protein crystallography." Roger Durst, Bruker AXS chief technology officer and life science product line manager, notes: "There is increasing interest in high-throughput structural genomics in both basic biosciences and drug discovery.
"That this is a high national priority is reflected in, for example, the recent announcement and the significant funding of the second phase of the NIH Protein Structure Initiative.
"Our new integrated crystallography tools fulfill the needs of this rapidly growing market for powerful solutions to make high-throughput structural genomics a working reality."
