title: Practical macromolecular cryocrystallography.
abstract: Cryocrystallography is an indispensable technique that is routinely used for single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collection at temperatures near 100 K, where radiation damage is mitigated. Modern procedures and tools to cryoprotect and rapidly cool macromolecular crystals with a significant solvent fraction to below the glass-transition phase of water are reviewed. Reagents and methods to help prevent the stresses that damage crystals when flash-cooling are described. A method of using isopentane to assess whether cryogenic temperatures have been preserved when dismounting screened crystals is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Rigaku Americas Corp., 9009 New Trails Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pflugrath
mesh_terms: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005615:Freezing; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water
keywords: annealing; automounter; cryocrystallography; cryoprotectant; crystal mounting; flash-cooling; high pressure