New paradigm for macromolecular crystallography experiments at SSRL: automated crystal screening and remote data collection.
Complete automation of the macromolecular crystallography experiment has been achieved at SSRL through the combination of robust mechanized experimental hardware and a flexible control system with an intuitive user interface. These highly reliable systems have enabled crystallography experiments to be carried out from the researchers' home institutions and other remote locations while retaining complete control over even the most challenging systems. A breakthrough component of the system, the Stanford Auto-Mounter (SAM), has enabled the efficient mounting of cryocooled samples without human intervention. Taking advantage of this automation, researchers have successfully screened more than 200 000 samples to select the crystals with the best diffraction quality for data collection as well as to determine optimal crystallization and cryocooling conditions. These systems, which have been deployed on all SSRL macromolecular crystallography beamlines and several beamlines worldwide, are used by more than 80 research groups in remote locations, establishing a new paradigm for macromolecular crystallography experimentation.
Soltis
S Michael
SM
SSRL, SLAC, 2575 Sand Hill Road MS 99, Menlo Park, CA 95124, USA. soltis@slac.stanford.edu
Cohen
Aina E
AE
Deacon
Ashley
A
Eriksson
Thomas
T
González
Ana
A
McPhillips
Scott
S
Chui
Hsui
H
Dunten
Pete
P
Hollenbeck
Michael
M
Mathews
Irimpan
I
Miller
Mitch
M
Moorhead
Penjit
P
Phizackerley
R Paul
RP
Smith
Clyde
C
Song
Jinhu
J
van dem Bedem
Henry
H
Ellis
Paul
P
Kuhn
Peter
P
McPhillips
Timothy
T
Sauter
Nicholas
N
Sharp
Kenneth
K
Tsyba
Irina
I
Wolf
Guenter
G
D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003199:Computer Systems; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003625:Data Collection; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012371:Robotics; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D046912:Multiprotein Complexes