Diana, We already got a new Art Robbins Phoenix crystallization robot recently and very friendly as time consuming per plate is concerned. Theoretically your strategy of aspirating one sample enough and dispensing into several 96 well plate is feasible. However it should depend on the protocol set by this company. It seems there is no such protocol incorporated in their software, so it should be difficult to do this. Anyway you should contact the company directly for such information.
HTH Donghui On 4/25/08, Diana Tomchick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > BACKGROUND: Recently we acquired an Art Robbins Phoenix crystallization > robot. This instrument is in a shared environment, accessible to labs with > projects that range from small, well-behaved soluble cytosolic proteins to > large complexes and integral membrane proteins. Many of our users obtain > only small quantities (a few hundred microliters) of purified proteins, and > they are always looking for ways to maximize the number of crystallization > screens they can set up with their samples. > > QUESTION: Several users have recently asked if they could use a protocol > that allows them to aspirate enough protein into the Nanoneedle (the needle > used for dispensing protein) to set up 3-5 or more different 96-condition > screens. They feel this would minimize any sample waste and maximize their > time. Our concern is that this might result in clogging of the Nanoneedle > due to evaporation and subsequent precipitation of their protein, as the > amount of time required for such a protocol would be greater than 10 > minutes. Our local Art Robbins representative has agreed with us that this > is not a recommended protocol. We are in a bit of a dilemma as we do not > have enough experience with this robot to definitively say that the users > should not follow this kind of protocol, but perhaps there is a better way > to achieve their desired goal. > > Does anyone out there have any practical suggestions and experience that > could help us accommodate such user requests? > > Thank you in advance, I'll post a summary of responses, > > Diana > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > Diana R. Tomchick > Associate Professor > University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center > Department of Biochemistry > 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. > Rm. ND10.214B > Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 214-645-6383 (phone) > 214-645-6353 (fax) >
