Device and method for high throughput screening of crystallization conditions in a vapor diffusion environment

摘要

A high-density high-throughput microplate and methods for simultaneouslyscreening a plurality of protein crystallization solutions and for producingdiffraction quality protein crystals in a vapor-diffusion environment aredisclosed. The microplate has defined side-by-side paired chambers of equalsize, wherein the side-by-side paired chambers have a maximum volume of about8 µl, and wherein the paired chambers have a vapor channel, therein providingvapor exchange between the side-by-side paired chambers. The microplate furtherincludes a membrane to seal the surface of the microplate. The microplate is adaptedto receive a crystallization solution in one of the side-by-side paired chambersand a protein solution in the other of the side-by-side paired chambers, whereinthe protein solution and the crystallization solution interact via a vapor diffusionprocess, which enables the formation of protein crystals within the chamberthat contains the protein solution.