Prototype Automated Protein Crystallization Monitoring

该项目的主要目标是建立和测试高通量蛋白质晶体学的原型仪器；它将自动监控和存储结晶实验，从最初的“设置”（通常在机器人上）到最终的提取以确定结构。我们称这种仪器为“蛋白质结晶监测站”（简称PCMS）。它将在恒温恒湿条件下储存和监测大量结晶实验（在180个微孔板的可交换盒中包含17,280个单独实验）。结晶将通过数字图像捕获监测；数字图像最初将由机器视觉软件筛选，这将大大减少需要人工解释的图像数量。与PCMS相关的软件将与首席研究员实验室开发的XtalGrow软件集成。拟议的商业应用：该项目将开发一种自动化仪器，该仪器将促进高通量和传统蛋白质结晶工作的蛋白质结晶。

The primary goal of this project is to build and test a prototype instrument for high throughput protein crystallography; it would automate the monitoring and storage of crystallization experiments form their initial "set up" (typically on a robot) through he final extraction for structure determination. We call this instrument a "Protein Crystallization Monitor Station" (or PCMS). It would store and monitor large number of crystallization experiment (in exchangeable cassettes of 180 microplates containint 17,280 individual experiments) at constant temperature and humidity. Crystallizations would be monitored by digital image capture; the digital image would be initially screened by machine vision software that would significantly reduce the number of images requiring human interpretation. The software associated with the PCMS would be integrated with the XtalGrow software developed in the Principal Investigator's laboratory. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This project will develop an automated instrument that would facilitate protein crystallization for both high-throughput and conventional protein crystallization efforts.