A High-Throughput Crystallization Screening System for the UCSC Macromolecular X-

描述（由申请人提供）：UCSC的大分子x射线晶体学小组已经提出了一项提案，以获得自动液体处理机器人和用于结晶筛选的成像显微镜。机器人和成像系统允许高通量筛选大分子结晶条件，同时减少这些实验所需的纯化材料的数量。该仪器将允许我们的研究小组筛选结晶条件的范围，这将是不切实际的使用目前的手工方法。具体来说，我们正在申请资金来购买一只TTP Labtech蚊子。结晶机器人和CrystalPro HT-80D显微镜成像系统。这两种仪器都坚固耐用，易于使用，非常适合在多用户设施中操作。它们将被安置在与目前的大分子x射线设备相邻的空间中。一位博士级别的设施经理将维护设备并培训用户。我们得到了UCSC物理与生物科学部（PBSci）和加州定量生物医学研究所（QB3）的机构支持，为设施经理的工资提供资金。此外，PBSci还为这些设备提供了空间。该仪器将极大地增强UCSC的大分子x射线晶体学设施，使我们能够创建一个完全现代化的平台来进行生物分子的结构分析，并增加结构生物学对UCSC生物医学研究界的可及性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The macromolecular X-ray crystallography group at UCSC has developed a proposal to acquire automated liquid handling robotics and an imaging microscope for crystallization screening. The robot and imaging system allow for high-throughput screening of macromolecular crystallization conditions, while reducing the amount of purified material required for these experiments. The instrumentation will permit our research groups to screen ranges of crystallization conditions that would be impractical using current manual methods. Specifically, we are requesting funds to purchase a TTP Labtech mosquito. crystallization robot and CrystalPro HT-80D microscope imaging system. Both instruments are robust and offer ease of use which make them ideally suited for operation in a multi-user facility. They will be housed in space that is adjacent to the current macromolecular X-ray facility. A PhD-level facility manger will maintain the equipment and train users. We have obtained institutional support from the Division of Physical and Biological Science (PBSci) at UCSC and the California Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Research (QB3) in terms of contributing funds towards the salary of the facility manager. Furthermore, PBSci is providing space to house the equipment. The proposed instrumentation will greatly enhance the macromolecular X-ray crystallography facility at UCSC, enabling us to create a fully modern platform for carrying out structural analysis of biomolecules and to increase the accessibility of structural biology to the UCSC biomedical research community.