Services
The Protein Crystallisation Facility (PCF)
The protein crystallisation facility provides access to world-class equipment for protein crystallisation, crystal imaging and expertise to help determine the three-dimensional structure of proteins (or macromolecules) starting from a purified sample. The facility also uses high-throughput crystallisation techniques for the growth of single crystals of small molecules ( drugs, organic and inorganic samples) on the nanoscale using crystallisation robots.
The facility supports the building of protein crystallisation condition screening experiments by maintaining:
Commercial conditions screens; JSCG, INDEX, ShotGun, PROPLEX, PACT, PEG ION +2, PEGRX 1+2, COMBINED Screens 4 x 24 well Grids
Two Mosquito liquid handlers; hassle-free setup of crystallisation trials using crystallisation robots, combines speed, accuracy, and high precision pipetting of nanolitre volumes with zero cross-contamination from a disposable tip.
Two RockImagers; fully automated Plate Imagers which will take regular images of experiments enabling rapid identification of suitable crystallisation conditions and includes a UV capability to detect protein crystals and offer temperature control at 20ºC and 8ºC.
The RockMaker software; is a comprehensive information management system that manages the entire crystallisation experimentation process, from designing and dispensing to image viewing and analysis.
The PCF is able to take on both academic and commercial structural biology and small molecule crystallisation projects. contact the team before beginning protein expression/small molecule crystallisation, as they can offer advice on construct design, sample quality and sample quantity. They can also advise on protein purification, crystal optimisation.
Depending on the level of user expertise, a facility is available to help with any of the subsequent steps necessary to determine your crystal structure.
Workshops
The facility conducts the following workshops for the users;
1. Introduction to crystallisation condition screening
2. Crystal Optimisation
3. Screening with seeding
CMM coordinates South East Queensland macromolecular crystallography access to the Australian Synchrotron through the Collaborative Access Program with access to MX1 and MX2 beamline time to X-ray data collection.
Contact
The Protein Crysallisation Facility - Scientific Officer
Dr Kasun S Athukorala Arachchige
Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) and Queensland Bioscience Precinct (QBP) Operation
0426 063 207
kasun.athukorala@uq.edu.au
Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia campus
