title: A new highly integrated sample environment for protein crystallography.
abstract: Protein crystallography is becoming a popular technique that is routinely used to access structural information. At one end of the process, sample preparation is now facilitated by commercially available crystallization kits. At the other end, structure determination has been made easier by automated software. Data collection, the step in between, is now usually performed on synchrotron sources. However, it is still restricted to experienced users and requires significant help from beamline staff. Part of this difficulty arises from the sophisticated experimental setup, which comprises a goniometer, a magnetic head, a device for changing the sample and monitoring accessories. It was proposed that this setup could be simplified by replacing these elements by a robotic arm that can perform all of the required tasks. In the present paper, it is demonstrated that this new setup can be used on a synchrotron beamline to mount and centre the sample and to collect diffraction data. This new system completely changes the design of the experimental setup by merging functions that were previously considered to be distinct. Moreover, automation of sample handling need not be considered as a specific development and is now included in a unique multipurpose device.
authors.affiliation: IBS J.-P. Ebel CEA-CNRS-UJF, 41 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38027 Grenoble CEDEX 1, France.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacquamet
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohana
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borel
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pirocchi
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Charrault
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carpentier
authors.forename: Jean Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ferrer
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012371:Robotics; D017356:Synchrotrons
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins