Crystallization Core
The mission of the Crystallization Facility is to provide state-of-the-art high throughput crystallization facilities for structural biologists at UCLA, as well as external users.
>Services >Downloads
Trials, Optimizations, Appointments | Billing Info, New Users, Screens Available
Services Provided by the Crystallization Core Facility
This is a full service core in that it not only offers access to sophisticated equipment and technologies, but also offers advice and technical assistance in sample preparation. The facility will provide screen preparation, plate setup, automated image acquisition and analysis, and optimization design. The facility combines technological advances in new ways to automate every step along the crystallization process. With the new high-throughput set up, 18,000 experiments can be run each day.
List of services/technologies provided by the Core Facility
- Consultation, guidance, and technical assistance to researchers on macromolecular crystal growth
- Automatic setup of 3000 crystallization conditions per hour using 300uL of sample. (Hanging or Sitting Drops)
- Automatic setup of crystallization conditions by nanoscale free interface diffusion (FID) using the Fluidigm Topaz system.
- This is the only facility in California capable of detecting protein crystals using a sophisticated UV/vis microscope.
- Optimization of crystallization conditions using robotics to prepare fine grids.
- Optimization of crystallization conditions using a library of 384 commercial compounds.
- Storage of plates in temperature controlled incubators (4, 15 and 20 degrees)
Facilities and Equipment
The Facility operates in Boyer Hall with the following equipment:
- Qiagen BioRobot 3000 for mother-daughter replication and to dispense solutions from commercial kits. ($80,000)
- Tecan Genesis 200/8 to prepare crystallization kits and to generate optimization conditions. ($250,000)
- TTP Labtech Mosquito nanodispenser robot capable of setting hanging and sitting drops at the rate of 300 conditions every 5 minutes. ($150,000)
- Korima PRS-1000 UV microscope to distinguish protein from salt crystals. ($90,000)
- Emerald BioSystems Crystal Monitor microscope workstation with automated image capture.
- Fluidigm Topaz Robot for nanoscale free interface diffusion. ($40,000)
- Commercial Screen Formulations are available in 96 well format.
Sample Preparation Requirements
The user must provide a sample suitable for crystallization: A basic Requirement for macromolecular crystallization s sample purity better than 98% as detected by SDS gel and/or Mass Spectroscopy. The presence of secondary bands in the gels or other contaminants will decrease the success rate. The optimal protein concentration is around 10 mg/ml but other concentrations can be accepted as long as the technical staff is notified. The normal turn around is 24 hours. Special optimization conditions may require more time. We recommend to centrifuge the sample shortly before the crystallization trials starts.
Fee Structure
To recover the cost of chemicals, consumables and service contracts for the robotics, the following fee structure will be charged to researchers:
- Crystallization tray with 96 commercial solutions, 3 drop experiment (total=288 conditions): $32
- Crystallization tray with 96 optimization matrix 1 drop experiment (total=96 conditions): $32
- Crystallization tray with 96 additive screens, 3 drop experiment (total=288 conditions): $32
- The crystallization facility recharge form can be downloaded here
Mode of Operation
The Crystallization Core Facility is supported by one technical staff, with oversight from Dr. Bowie and Dr. Cascio.
