Application of automated methods for determination of protein conformational stability.

Automation of protein stability determination saves much time and often results in better data. In our laboratory we estimate that the lack of such instrumentation would increase the amount of time required to make and characterize a mutant protein by at least one-third. As with any experiment, lack of attention to important details can required repeating the experiment or, worse, give superficially good data that are flawed in some manner. Nevertheless, with a minimal investment of attention, an automated instrument can give dramatic gains in productivity.