Monash Biomolecular Crystallisation Platform is an automated platform for the high throughput crystallisation of biological macromolecules, operating on a fee-for-service model.
We provide Monash researchers with access to the newest nano-volume crystallisation and imaging technologies using state-of-the-art equipment:
• NT8 (Formulatrix) and
• Mosquito (TTP Labtech) - nano drop dispensing
• Formulator (Formulatrix) - building and dispensing customised optimisation screens using microfluidic technology
• 4 Rock Imagers (Formulatrix) - plate incubators/automated imaging systems
• 2 SONICC crystal detectors (Formulatrix) - using Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) and Ultraviolet Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence (UV-TPEF) for protein crystals detection in sitting drops and LCP
• Prometheus (NanoTemper) - nano DSF – protein thermal unfolding, chemical denaturation and aggregation
Our Services:
• Nano-volume crystallisation screening (vapour diffusion and LCP), followed by automated imaging with remote access to images
• Seeding and additive screening
• Custom screen design and dispensing for optimisation of crystallisation conditions.
• Protein stability testing by Differential Scanning Fluorimetry for crystallisation and other purposes (e.g. fragment/ small molecule binding assay)
To increase the probability of growing crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies out team uses many well-known optimisation techniques. The use of robotics allows for the miniaturisation of crystallisation experiments, enables us to screen a wide range of conditions from limited sample volumes.
Drop dispensing
Vapour diffusion
Lipid cubic phase (LCP)
Hit optimisation
Custom (fine) screen making
Additive screening
Seeding
Drop imaging (automated: visible, polarised, UV and SONICC; and manual)
Remote access to images via web interface
Inquire
Key Instrumentation
The Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility is an automated platform for the high- throughput crystallisation of biological macromolecules. Macromolecular crystallography provides unparalleled details of the 3D structures of biological macromolecules and forms the basis for the rational design of therapeutics. Our facility helps to overcome the crystallisation bottleneck in crystallographic structure determination.
Key Instrumentation
Four liquid handling robots (three for crystallisation drop dispensing and one for making optimisation screens).
NT8 (Formulatrix) - nanoliter-volume liquid handler for dispensing all crystallisation drops, including LCP.
Mosquito LCP (TTP Labtech) - using positive displacement technology and LCP.
Crystal Phoenix (Art Robbins) - featuring nano-dispensing capability and 96 syringe head for simultaneous transfer of screen solutions.
Formulator (Formulatrix) - liquid handler that uses microfuidic technology - for dispensing optimisation screens.
Four automated imaging systems: four Rock Imagers 1000 (Formulatrix): with combined capacity to handle and automatically inspect 4000 crystallisation plates, providing visible, UV and SONICC technology imaging at either 20°C or 4°C.
Prometheus NT.48 (NanoTemper) to investigate protein stability for crystallisation through changes in intrinsic fuorescence during thermal melting.
Inquire
Protein stability testing by Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF)
Protein stability testing by Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF)
We offer a number of techniques and tools to characterise (recombinant) protein samples with the goal to prevent or minimise interference with downstream analyses. We can perform rapid quality control analysis to
Check the buffer is optimised prior to protein crystallisation using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry.
Determines the stability of macromolecules for crystallisation, cryo-EM, purification and storage
Study the thermal stability of a wide range of proteins and the structural changes that occur upon heating, such as the presence of ordered regions or domains in the protein. Study how the stability of a protein is affected by mutations, post-translational modifications, or the binding of small molecules. Screen for potential inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.
Other Protein Characterisation techniques are available in the following Monash Platforms
To increase the probability of growing crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies out team uses many well-known optimisation techniques. The use of robotics allows for the miniaturisation of crystallisation experiments, enables us to screen a wide range of conditions from limited sample volumes.
Drop dispensing
Vapour diffusion
Lipid cubic phase (LCP)
Hit optimisation
Custom (fine) screen making
Additive screening
Seeding
Drop imaging (automated: visible, polarised, UV and SONICC; and manual)
Remote access to images via web interface
Inquire
Key Instrumentation
The Monash Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility is an automated platform for the high- throughput crystallisation of biological macromolecules. Macromolecular crystallography provides unparalleled details of the 3D structures of biological macromolecules and forms the basis for the rational design of therapeutics. Our facility helps to overcome the crystallisation bottleneck in crystallographic structure determination.
Key Instrumentation
Four liquid handling robots (three for crystallisation drop dispensing and one for making optimisation screens).
NT8 (Formulatrix) - nanoliter-volume liquid handler for dispensing all crystallisation drops, including LCP.
Mosquito LCP (TTP Labtech) - using positive displacement technology and LCP.
Crystal Phoenix (Art Robbins) - featuring nano-dispensing capability and 96 syringe head for simultaneous transfer of screen solutions.
Formulator (Formulatrix) - liquid handler that uses microfuidic technology - for dispensing optimisation screens.
Four automated imaging systems: four Rock Imagers 1000 (Formulatrix): with combined capacity to handle and automatically inspect 4000 crystallisation plates, providing visible, UV and SONICC technology imaging at either 20°C or 4°C.
Prometheus NT.48 (NanoTemper) to investigate protein stability for crystallisation through changes in intrinsic fuorescence during thermal melting.
Inquire
Protein stability testing by Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF)
Protein stability testing by Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF)
We offer a number of techniques and tools to characterise (recombinant) protein samples with the goal to prevent or minimise interference with downstream analyses. We can perform rapid quality control analysis to
Check the buffer is optimised prior to protein crystallisation using Differential Scanning Fluorimetry.
Determines the stability of macromolecules for crystallisation, cryo-EM, purification and storage
Study the thermal stability of a wide range of proteins and the structural changes that occur upon heating, such as the presence of ordered regions or domains in the protein. Study how the stability of a protein is affected by mutations, post-translational modifications, or the binding of small molecules. Screen for potential inhibitors of protein-protein interactions.
Other Protein Characterisation techniques are available in the following Monash Platforms
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