title: Improving diffraction by humidity control: a novel device compatible with X-ray beamlines.
abstract: Dehydration of protein crystals is rarely used, despite being a post-crystallization method that is useful for the improvement of crystal diffraction properties, as it is difficult to reproduce and monitor. A novel device for hydration control of macromolecular crystals in a standard data-collection environment has been developed. The device delivers an air stream of precise relative humidity that can be used to alter the amount of water in macromolecular crystals. The device can be rapidly installed and is fully compatible with most standard synchrotron X-ray beamlines. Samples are mounted in cryoloops and the progress of dehydration can be monitored both optically and by the acquisition of diffraction images. Once the optimal hydration level has been obtained, cryocooling is easy to achieve by hand or by using a sample changer. The device has been thoroughly tested on several ESRF beamlines and is available to users.
authors: Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House DR1.40, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, RAL, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, England. juan.sanchez-weatherby@diamond.ac.uk
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Sanchez-Weatherby
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: Bowler
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Huet
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Gobbo
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Felisaz
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Lavault
authors: Raphael
authors: R
authors: Moya
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Kadlec
authors: Raimond B G
authors: RB
authors: Ravelli
authors: Florent
authors: F
authors: Cipriani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003460:Crystallization; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water