ATCG3D Opens a User Facility for Microcapillary Protein Crystallization Near Argonne National Laboratory
December 4, 2008
Accelerated Technologies Center for Gene to 3D Structure (ATCG3D), in collaboration with Emerald BioStructures and Emerald BioSystems, announces the opening of a User Facility for the Microcapillary Protein Crystallization System (MPCSTM) Located at Emerald’s Woodridge, IL laboratories. Less than 5 miles away from Argonne National Laboratory and the Advanced Photon Source (APS), the MPCS User Facility serves protein crystallographers who are interested in learning to crystallize proteins in MPCS CrystalCards™. These devices require less than 4 microliters of protein sample to prepare and store ~800 individual nanovolume crystallization experiments within the microfluidic circuitry of the clear plastic CrystalCards.
Researchers interested in this new microfluidic crystallization technology are invited to take a personalized “test drive” of the MPCS CrystalCards using their own protein samples. The Diffraction-Ready™ CrystalCards are sufficiently X-ray transmissive to allow in situ X-ray diffraction data collection from crystals held in devices placed directly within the X-ray beam. The Peel-ApartTM nature of the CrystalCards allows researchers to easily remove crystals using standard laboratory equipment and techniques.
Crystallographers who are traveling to Argonne to collect X-ray diffraction data at the APS are welcome to visit the MPCS User Facility. A user will undergo a brief training session and set up their first crystallization experiments in as little as 30 minutes. Users then walk away with CrystalCards in hand (or carrying box) allowing crystal growth to occur during their data collection runs at APS. If crystals appear, they can be harvested and subjected to X-ray diffraction data collection at APS, or examined for X-ray diffraction at any of the beamlines with in-line crystal viewing optics (such as GM/CA CAT 23 B).
The only costs to Users of the MCPS User Facility are for the CrystalCards consumables used to screen protein samples for crystallization. Users can reserve a day and time to visit the MPCS User Facility by signing up through the Emerald BioSystems website.
Funding Acknowledgments
Emerald gratefully acknowledges funding from the NIGMS-NCRR co-sponsored PSI-2 Specialized Center Grant U54 GM074961 which supported development of the MPCS and CrystalCard technology through the Accelerated Technologies Center for Gene to 3D Structure (ATCG3D).
CONTACT INFORMATION
Emerald BioSystems contact:
Media:
Ann Speaker
Tel: +1 206 780 8931
Email: aspeaker@emeraldbiosystems.com
Emerald Chemistry & BioStructures
Media:
Venkat Rajogopal
Tel: +1 630-783-4858
Email: VRajagopal@decode.com