Jiamu
Although we no longer focus on microbatch-under-oil, we have a small utility called VDTOMB that converts from vapor diffusion conditions to microbatch. I have tested it with known published and in-house crystallization conditions and it seems to work remarkably well. Go to http://www.douglas.co.uk/tipsntech.htm (you must use Internet Explorer, not Firefox or something) and click on the link near the middle of the page. In most cases where the main precipitant is PEG there will be very little equilibration in the VD experiment, so the MB conditions are almost the same as the VD conditions. The typical size for manual dispensing is 1 + 1 ul. For robotic dispensing, 0.3 + 0.3 is typical. As long as you have a couple of mm of paraffin (or silicone mixed with paraffin for screening) over the drops you will be OK. If you or anyone else would like plates for microbatch, please ask me for samples - see http://www.douglas.co.uk/vb.htm. They're about $4, which is cheaper than most VD plates. MB often works well for proteins that are sensitive to oxidation, and for membrane proteins. Generally, less protein is lost on the surface of the drop, and the crystallization conditions are better known. It is also great for conditions with isopropanol or other volatile liquids - see http://www.douglas.co.uk/winner1.htm Good luck with your project Patrick -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Douglas Instruments Ltd. DouglasHouse, EastGarston, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG177HD, UK Directors: Peter Baldock, Patrick Shaw Stewart http://www.douglas.co.uk/ Tel: 44 (0) 148-864-9090 US toll-free 1-877-225-2034 Regd. England 2177994, VAT Reg. GB 480 7371 36 From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jiamu Du Sent: 26 July 2008 12:39 To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Subject: [ccp4bb] about microbatch Dear all, I want to screen crystal using microbatch method. I do not have standard microbatch plate, so I have to using a 96 well cell culture plate instead. My question is below: What is a typical drop size for microbatch? 1ul protein + 1ul mother solution or larger? How much paraffin oil is sufficient for cover the drop? Thanks. -- Jiamu Du, Ph.D. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences 320 Yue-Yang Road Shanghai 200031 P. R. China Tel: +86-21-5492-1117 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
