title: Benefits of automated crystallization plate tracking, imaging, and analysis.
abstract: We describe the design of a database and software for managing and organizing protein crystallization data. We also outline the considerations behind the design of a fast web interface linking protein production data, crystallization images, and automated image analysis. The database and associated interfaces underpin the Oxford Protein Production Facility (OPPF) crystallization laboratory, collecting, in a routine and automatic manner, up to 100,000 images per day. Over 17 million separate images are currently held in this database. We discuss the substantial scientific benefits automated tracking, imaging, and analysis of crystallizations offers to the structural biologist: analysis of the time course of the trial and easy analysis of trials with related crystallization conditions. Features of this system address requirements common to many crystallographic laboratories that are currently setting up (semi-)automated crystallization imaging systems.
authors.affiliation: The Division of Structural Biology, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7BN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Diprose
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Ray J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: E Yvonne
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harlos
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Esnouf
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D003461:Crystallography; D003628:Database Management Systems; D030562:Databases, Protein; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted