Prototype Automated Protein Crystallization Monitoring

这个项目的主要目标是建立和测试高通量蛋白质结晶学的原型仪器；它将自动监测和存储结晶实验，从它们最初的“设置”(通常在机器人上)到最后提取结构确定。我们称这台仪器为“蛋白质结晶监测站”(或PCMS)。它将在恒温恒湿条件下存储和监测大量结晶实验(包含17,280个单独实验的180个微孔板的可交换盒式磁带)。结晶将通过数字图像捕获进行监测；数字图像最初将通过机器视觉软件进行筛选，这将大大减少需要人类解读的图像数量。与PCMS相关的软件将与首席调查员实验室开发的XtalGrow软件相结合。拟议的商业应用：该项目将开发一种自动化仪器，促进高通量和常规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.