X-ray Crystallography

X-ray crystallography remains the gold standard for structure determination of biological macromolecules at atomic resolution. State-of-the art methods that record the diffraction of x-rays from crystalline preparations of the macromolecule of interest can be used to determine the electron density of the molecule, from which a three-dimensional model can be obtained. The prerequisite for this experiment are crystals of the molecule of interest that provide the strongest diffraction of x-rays possible.

Rigaku MicroMax-007 HF microfocus rotating anode generator equipped with Osmic VariMax mirror optics, a 4-axis goniometer, and a Saturn – 944+ CCD detector. Data are analyzed using the Rigaku Saturn software package, HKL3000, and dTrek.

A second Rigaku MicroMax-007 HF microfocus rotating anode generator equipped with Osmic mirror optics and a MAR Research CCD detector. Both single crystal diffraction instruments are equipped with refrigerated nitrogen gas cooling systems to maintain crystal temperatures at 100K.

Rigaku Alchemist Benchtop Liquid Handling System. Originally purchased to generate crystal screen conditions; might have more general use for large-volume pipetting robotics.

TTP Labtech Mosquito Crystal 96-well Nanoliter Liquid Handling Robot. The instrument automates the set-up of protein crystallization vapor diffusion experiments and additive screen in a high-throughput format in the 25-1200 nanoliter regime.