title: BioSAXS Sample Changer: a robotic sample changer for rapid and reliable high-throughput X-ray solution scattering experiments.
abstract: Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) of macromolecules in solution is in increasing demand by an ever more diverse research community, both academic and industrial. To better serve user needs, and to allow automated and high-throughput operation, a sample changer (BioSAXS Sample Changer) that is able to perform unattended measurements of up to several hundred samples per day has been developed. The Sample Changer is able to handle and expose sample volumes of down to 5 µl with a measurement/cleaning cycle of under 1 min. The samples are stored in standard 96-well plates and the data are collected in a vacuum-mounted capillary with automated positioning of the solution in the X-ray beam. Fast and efficient capillary cleaning avoids cross-contamination and ensures reproducibility of the measurements. Independent temperature control for the well storage and for the measurement capillary allows the samples to be kept cool while still collecting data at physiological temperatures. The Sample Changer has been installed at three major third-generation synchrotrons: on the BM29 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the P12 beamline at the PETRA-III synchrotron (EMBL@PETRA-III) and the I22/B21 beamlines at Diamond Light Source, with the latter being the first commercial unit supplied by Bruker ASC.
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Round
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Felisaz
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fodinger
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huet
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villard
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Outstation, EMBL c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Clement E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.affiliation: ESRF, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pernot
authors.affiliation: ESRF, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McSweeney
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Outstation, EMBL c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roessle
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Outstation, EMBL c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dmitri I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Svergun
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cipriani
mesh_terms: D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D012371:Robotics; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D017356:Synchrotrons
keywords: BioSAXS Sample Changer; automation; high-throughput; small-angle X-ray scattering