Liquid handling system for protein crystallization

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Protein X-ray crystallography is a method of seminal importance to all areas of biology since it provides unparalleled insight into the molecular basis for how proteins and enzymes function within living organisms. Our research groups use this method to reveal the molecular basis of multidrug resistance and anti-oxidation mechanisms in bacteria, virus replication and immune system evasion strategies, agricultural herbicides, and extracellular matrix proteins. Protein and enzymes must first be crystallized to determine their 3D structure by X-ray crystallography. This typically requires the screening of hundreds of chemical conditions before a suitable crystallization condition is found. We currently screen crystallization conditions by hand, which is labour intensive, highly prone to error, extremely expensive, and wasteful to the environment. Modern liquid handling systems readily overcome these issues and are thus commonplace in the majority of structural biology laboratories in Canada and abroad. A significant structural biology research group has been established in Manitoba over the past five years. There are now three independent laboratories with over 30 highly qualified trainees, post-docs and technicians. Unfortunately, we do not have access to a liquid handling system to meet our demands for protein crystallization. It has become nearly impossible to sustain a competitive structural biology research program without a liquid handling system due to the time and expense that must be devoted to screening for crystallization conditions by hand, a burden the majority of others in our field have overcome with the use of a liquid handling system.