Snell Gyorgy, Cork Carl, Nordmeyer Robert, Cornell Earl, Meigs George, Yegian Derek, Jaklevic Joseph, Jin Jian, Stevens Raymond C, Earnest Thomas
Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Califonia 94720 USA.
Structure. 2004 Apr;12(4):537-45. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2004.03.011.
High-throughput data collection for macromolecular crystallography requires an automated sample mounting and alignment system for cryo-protected crystals that functions reliably when integrated into protein-crystallography beamlines at synchrotrons. Rapid mounting and dismounting of the samples increases the efficiency of the crystal screening and data collection processes, where many crystals can be tested for the quality of diffraction. The sample-mounting subsystem has random access to 112 samples, stored under liquid nitrogen. Results of extensive tests regarding the performance and reliability of the system are presented. To further increase throughput, we have also developed a sample transport/storage system based on "puck-shaped" cassettes, which can hold sixteen samples each. Seven cassettes fit into a standard dry shipping Dewar. The capabilities of a robotic crystal mounting and alignment system with instrumentation control software and a relational database allows for automated screening and data collection to be developed.
用于大分子晶体学的高通量数据收集需要一个用于冷冻保护晶体的自动样品安装和对准系统，该系统在集成到同步加速器的蛋白质晶体学光束线时能可靠运行。样品的快速安装和拆卸提高了晶体筛选和数据收集过程的效率，在此过程中可以对许多晶体进行衍射质量测试。样品安装子系统可随机访问存储在液氮下的112个样品。文中给出了关于该系统性能和可靠性的大量测试结果。为了进一步提高通量，我们还开发了一种基于“圆盘形”盒式装置的样品传输/存储系统，每个盒式装置可容纳16个样品。七个盒式装置可装入一个标准的干式运输杜瓦瓶中。带有仪器控制软件和关系数据库的机器人晶体安装和对准系统的功能使得能够开发自动筛选和数据收集功能。
