Crystallization and Diffraction
The Crystallization and Diffraction Core Facility provides integrated services in biomacromolecular crystallization and structural analysis, combining advanced crystallization infrastructure with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The facility is equipped with automated crystallization robots and crystallization hotels enabling high-throughput setup, controlled crystal growth, and remote monitoring via a web interface. We support both manual and automated setup of crystallization experiments under a wide range of conditions. Structural studies are carried out using in-house X-ray diffraction and SAXS instruments equipped with high-intensity MetalJet X-ray sources (Excillum). A low-volume autosampler enables high-throughput SAXS measurements, while a dedicated liquid chromatography system supports in-house SEC-SAXS experiments. Our services also include data processing and assistance with preparation of publication-ready reports.
Key Equipment
- Gryphon dropsetter (ArtRobins) – a multi-channel (96-channel) pipetting robot for easy setup of nanodrop crystallization plates
- Crystallization hotel RI1000 (Formulatrix) – automated storage and monitoring system for crystallization plates at 20 °C with remote access to imaging data, connected to SONICC
- SONICC (Formulatrix) – advanced technology for identification of protein crystals, including micro- and nanocrystals using SHG and UV-TPEF
- Crystallization hotel RI182 (Formulatrix) – storage of crystallization plates at 10 °C with remote access to imaging data
- Glovebox with stereomicroscope (GS) – for crystallization and crystal manipulation under controlled (oxygen-free) atmosphere
- Dropsetters NT8 (Formulatrix) – automated crystallization robots with controlled humidity, LCP capability, and robotic seeding options
- SpectroLight 600 (Xtal Concepts) – in drop DLS measurement
- Vitrobot (Thermo Scientific) – for sample preparation for cryo-EM and MicroED
- D8 Venture diffractometer (Bruker)
- Single-crystal diffractometer with a high-flux liquid gallium MetalJet D2+ X-ray source, Photon III M28 detector, and kappa goniometer
- High-resolution measurements under cryogenic conditions
- ISX stage (Bruker) – motorized stage for in situ X-ray diffraction experiments and plate screening
- HC-Lab – controlled humidity environment for crystal dehydration and room-temperature experiments
- XRF – elemental analysis using X-ray fluorescence
- SAXSpoint 2.0 (Anton Paar)
- SAXS and WAXS measurements
- Equipped with MetalJet D2+ X-ray source (Excillum) and Eiger 1M detector (Dectris)
- Automated sample delivery
- In situ UV-Vis spectrometer (Agilent)
- Liquid chromatography system (ÄKTA Go, GE Healthcare) for SEC-SAXS experiments
Expertise
- Classical and automated crystallization with remote experiment monitoring at 10 °C or 20 °C with strictly controlled temperature conditions and full backup systems
- High-throughput screening of crystallization conditions and their effects
- Anaerobic crystallization and manipulation of biomacromolecules
- X-ray diffraction screening of macromolecular crystals
- In-house data collection and processing
- In situ evaluation of diffraction from sensitive crystallization targets
- Experimental phasing (MIR, SAD, MAD)
- SAXS data acquisition and analysis, including SEC-SAXS
Open Access
- Assisted access to crystallization and diffraction instrumentation
- Limited capacity for service crystallization
- Assisted use of diffractometer and SAXS
- Support for long-term and complex experiments (e.g. in-house experimental phasing)
- Capacity for methods development
- Long-term, documented cryo-storage
Core Facility contacts
- Jiří Pavlíček - jiri.pavlicek@ibt.cas.cz
- Jan Stránský - Jan.Stransky@ibt.cas.cz
- Kristýna Adámková - adamkova@ibt.cas.cz
Do you want to use this equipment or services?
More information about The Crystallization and Diffraction Core Facility and related services you can find in document Equipement and services of CIISB (page 28).
