Protein Crystallization Imager

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PROJECT SUMMARY This application is requesting funds to purchase a Formulatrix ROCK IMAGER® 2 with Dual Light Path and capable of both ultraviolet (UV) and multi-fluorescence imaging to monitor and capture high-throughput crystallization screening experiments. The primary application of the new imager will be to accelerate crystallization screening in the institutional Advanced Technology Core (ATC) for Macromolecular X-ray Crystallography at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). The ROCK IMAGER 2 will replace the existing imaging system that was purchased in 2008, and will be no longer maintained or serviced by the manufacturer. The new imager will enhance the capabilities of the X-ray Core by enabling the rapid screening of protein crystals and crystals of fluorescently-labeled macromolecular complexes. In addition to the seven Major Users, who are experienced with protein crystallization or use X-ray crystallography for their research, four Minor Users have expressed interest in using the ROCK IMAGER 2 for crystallization screening through the Macromolecular X-ray Crystallography ATC. Besides BCM, there are only two other academic institutions in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) possessing an imaging system, neither of which is available for use by Core Staff. The requested instrument will be housed and managed by the X-ray Core to provide major services for the crystallization of proteins and their functional complexes with nucleic acids, small molecules, or both. The growing demand to discover new drugs reflects the College’s strategic plans for precision medicine and translational research, where health professionals and basic researchers come together to develop new therapeutics against emerging infectious diseases, diabetes and obesity, male contraceptive, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition to greatly enhancing the Core's workflow, the new imager will advance the individual research programs of users and will be made available to all investigators in the TMC to help find a structure solution of their macromolecule of interest.