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Matsuura H, Sakai N, Toma-Fukai S, Muraki N, Hayama K, Kamikubo H, Aono S, Kawano Y, Yamamoto M, Hirata K. Elucidating polymorphs of crystal structures by intensity-based hierarchical clustering analysis of multiple diffraction data sets. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2023; 79:909-924. [PMID: 37747037 PMCID: PMC10565733 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798323007039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In macromolecular structure determination using X-ray diffraction from multiple crystals, the presence of different structures (structural polymorphs) necessitates the classification of the diffraction data for appropriate structural analysis. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) is a promising technique that has so far been used to extract isomorphous data, mainly for single-structure determination. Although in principle the use of HCA can be extended to detect polymorphs, the absence of a reference to define the threshold used to group the isomorphous data sets (the `isomorphic threshold') poses a challenge. Here, unit-cell-based and intensity-based HCAs have been applied to data sets for apo trypsin and inhibitor-bound trypsin that were mixed post data acquisition to investigate the efficacy of HCA in classifying polymorphous data sets. Single-step intensity-based HCA successfully classified polymorphs with a certain `isomorphic threshold'. In data sets for several samples containing an unknown degree of structural heterogeneity, polymorphs could be identified by intensity-based HCA using the suggested `isomorphic threshold'. Polymorphs were also detected in single crystals using data collected using the continuous helical scheme. These findings are expected to facilitate the determination of multiple structural snapshots by exploiting automated data collection and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Matsuura
- Life Science Research Infrastructure Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Naoki Sakai
- Life Science Research Infrastructure Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
- Structural Biology Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Sachiko Toma-Fukai
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development-Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (AMED-CREST), Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
| | - Norifumi Muraki
- Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Koki Hayama
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Hironari Kamikubo
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Shigetoshi Aono
- Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kawano
- Life Science Research Infrastructure Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Masaki Yamamoto
- Life Science Research Infrastructure Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Kunio Hirata
- Life Science Research Infrastructure Group, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
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2
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Sui S, Mulichak A, Kulathila R, McGee J, Filiatreault D, Saha S, Cohen A, Song J, Hung H, Selway J, Kirby C, Shrestha OK, Weihofen W, Fodor M, Xu M, Chopra R, Perry SL. A capillary-based microfluidic device enables primary high-throughput room-temperature crystallographic screening. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:1034-1046. [PMID: 34429718 PMCID: PMC8366422 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576721004155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel capillary-based microfluidic strategy to accelerate the process of small-molecule-compound screening by room-temperature X-ray crystallography using protein crystals is reported. The ultra-thin microfluidic devices are composed of a UV-curable polymer, patterned by cleanroom photolithography, and have nine capillary channels per chip. The chip was designed for ease of sample manipulation, sample stability and minimal X-ray background. 3D-printed frames and cassettes conforming to SBS standards are used to house the capillary chips, providing additional mechanical stability and compatibility with automated liquid- and sample-handling robotics. These devices enable an innovative in situ crystal-soaking screening workflow, akin to high-throughput compound screening, such that quantitative electron density maps sufficient to determine weak binding events are efficiently obtained. This work paves the way for adopting a room-temperature microfluidics-based sample delivery method at synchrotron sources to facilitate high-throughput protein-crystallography-based screening of compounds at high concentration with the aim of discovering novel binding events in an automated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Sui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Anne Mulichak
- IMCA-CAT, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | | | - Joshua McGee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | - Sarthak Saha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Aina Cohen
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jinhu Song
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Selway
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Christina Kirby
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Om K. Shrestha
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Michelle Fodor
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mei Xu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah L. Perry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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3
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Martiel I, Buntschu D, Meier N, Gobbo A, Panepucci E, Schneider R, Heimgartner P, Müller D, Bühlmann K, Birri M, Kaminski JW, Leuenberger J, Oliéric V, Glettig W, Wang M. The TELL automatic sample changer for macromolecular crystallography. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:860-863. [PMID: 32381791 PMCID: PMC7285676 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520002416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the design and functionalities of the high-throughput TELL sample exchange system for macromolecular crystallography is presented. TELL was developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute with a focus on speed, storage capacity and reliability to serve the three macromolecular crystallography beamlines of the Swiss Light Source, as well as the SwissMX instrument at SwissFEL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Martiel
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Buntschu
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Meier
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Gobbo
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Ezequiel Panepucci
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Roman Schneider
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Peter Heimgartner
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - David Müller
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Kevin Bühlmann
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Mario Birri
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Jakub W. Kaminski
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - James Leuenberger
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Oliéric
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Wayne Glettig
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Meitian Wang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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4
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Murakami H, Hasegawa K, Ueno G, Yagi N, Yamamoto M, Kumasaka T. Development of SPACE-II for rapid sample exchange at SPring-8 macromolecular crystallography beamlines. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2020; 76:155-165. [PMID: 32038046 PMCID: PMC7008514 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320000030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A rapid and reliable sample changer, SPACE-II, has been developed at the SPring-8 macromolecular crystallography beamline BL41XU. It enables samples to be exchanged in 16 s, of which its action accounts for only 11 s. Two years of operating SPACE-II demonstrated that the average number of sample exchanges per day was increased by 40% compared with the previous model, and it had an error rate of only 0.089%. Reducing the sample-exchange time is a crucial issue in maximizing the throughput of macromolecular crystallography (MX) beamlines because the diffraction data collection itself is completed within a minute in the era of pixel-array detectors. To this end, an upgraded sample changer, SPACE-II, has been developed on the basis of the previous model, SPACE (SPring-8 Precise Automatic Cryo-sample Exchanger), at the BL41XU beamline at SPring-8. SPACE-II achieves one sample-exchange step within 16 s, of which its action accounts for only 11 s, because of three features: (i) the implementation of twin arms that enable samples to be exchanged in one cycle of mount-arm action, (ii) the implementation of long-stroke mount arms that allow samples to be exchanged without withdrawal of the detector and (iii) the use of a fast-moving translation and rotation stage for the mount arms. By pre-holding the next sample prior to the sample-exchange sequence, the time was further decreased to 11 s in the case of automatic data collection, of which the action of SPACE-II accounted for 8 s. Moreover, the sample capacity was expanded from four to eight Uni-Pucks. The performance of SPACE-II has been demonstrated in over two years of operation at BL41XU; the average number of samples mounted on the diffractometer in one day was increased from 132 to 185, with an error rate of 0.089%, which counted incidents in which users could not continue with an experiment without recovery work by entering the experimental hutch. On the basis of these results, SPACE-II has been installed at three other MX beamlines at SPring-8 as of July 2019. The fast and highly reliable SPACE-II is now one of the most important pieces of infrastructure for the MX beamlines at SPring-8, providing users with the opportunity to fully make use of limited beamtime with brilliant X-rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Murakami
- Protein Crystal Analysis Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Kazuya Hasegawa
- Protein Crystal Analysis Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Go Ueno
- Advanced Photon Technology Division, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Naoto Yagi
- Protein Crystal Analysis Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Masaki Yamamoto
- Advanced Photon Technology Division, RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Takashi Kumasaka
- Protein Crystal Analysis Division, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
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5
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Keedy DA. Journey to the center of the protein: allostery from multitemperature multiconformer X-ray crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:123-137. [PMID: 30821702 PMCID: PMC6400254 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318017941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins inherently fluctuate between conformations to perform functions in the cell. For example, they sample product-binding, transition-state-stabilizing and product-release states during catalysis, and they integrate signals from remote regions of the structure for allosteric regulation. However, there is a lack of understanding of how these dynamic processes occur at the basic atomic level. This gap can be at least partially addressed by combining variable-temperature (instead of traditional cryogenic temperature) X-ray crystallography with algorithms for modeling alternative conformations based on electron-density maps, in an approach called multitemperature multiconformer X-ray crystallography (MMX). Here, the use of MMX to reveal alternative conformations at different sites in a protein structure and to estimate the degree of energetic coupling between them is discussed. These insights can suggest testable hypotheses about allosteric mechanisms. Temperature is an easily manipulated experimental parameter, so the MMX approach is widely applicable to any protein that yields well diffracting crystals. Moreover, the general principles of MMX are extensible to other perturbations such as pH, pressure, ligand concentration etc. Future work will explore strategies for leveraging X-ray data across such perturbation series to more quantitatively measure how different parts of a protein structure are coupled to each other, and the consequences thereof for allostery and other aspects of protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, New York, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New York, New York, USA
- PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, USA
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6
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McCarthy AA, Barrett R, Beteva A, Caserotto H, Dobias F, Felisaz F, Giraud T, Guijarro M, Janocha R, Khadrouche A, Lentini M, Leonard GA, Lopez Marrero M, Malbet-Monaco S, McSweeney S, Nurizzo D, Papp G, Rossi C, Sinoir J, Sorez C, Surr J, Svensson O, Zander U, Cipriani F, Theveneau P, Mueller-Dieckmann C. ID30B - a versatile beamline for macromolecular crystallography experiments at the ESRF. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2018; 25:1249-1260. [PMID: 29979188 PMCID: PMC6038607 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577518007166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
ID30B is an undulator-based high-intensity, energy-tuneable (6.0-20 keV) and variable-focus (20-200 µm in diameter) macromolecular crystallography (MX) beamline at the ESRF. It was the last of the ESRF Structural Biology Group's beamlines to be constructed and commissioned as part of the ESRF's Phase I Upgrade Program and has been in user operation since June 2015. Both a modified microdiffractometer (MD2S) incorporating an in situ plate screening capability and a new flexible sample changer (the FlexHCD) were specifically developed for ID30B. Here, the authors provide the current beamline characteristics and detail how different types of MX experiments can be performed on ID30B (http://www.esrf.eu/id30b).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A. McCarthy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
- Correspondence e-mail:
| | - Ray Barrett
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Antonia Beteva
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Hugo Caserotto
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Fabien Dobias
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Franck Felisaz
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Thierry Giraud
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Matias Guijarro
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Robert Janocha
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Akim Khadrouche
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Mario Lentini
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Gordon A. Leonard
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Marcos Lopez Marrero
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | | | - Sean McSweeney
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Didier Nurizzo
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Gergely Papp
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Christopher Rossi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Jeremy Sinoir
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Clement Sorez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - John Surr
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Olof Svensson
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - Ulrich Zander
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Florent Cipriani
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Pascal Theveneau
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
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7
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Svensson O, Gilski M, Nurizzo D, Bowler MW. Multi-position data collection and dynamic beam sizing: recent improvements to the automatic data-collection algorithms on MASSIF-1. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2018; 74:433-440. [PMID: 29717714 PMCID: PMC5930350 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318003728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography is now a mature and widely used technique that is essential in the understanding of biology and medicine. Increases in computing power combined with robotics have not only enabled large numbers of samples to be screened and characterized but have also enabled better decisions to be taken on data collection itself. This led to the development of MASSIF-1 at the ESRF, the first beamline in the world to run fully automatically while making intelligent decisions taking user requirements into account. Since opening in late 2014, the beamline has processed over 42 000 samples. Improvements have been made to the speed of the sample-handling robotics and error management within the software routines. The workflows initially put into place, while highly innovative at the time, have been expanded to include increased complexity and additional intelligence using the information gathered during characterization; this includes adapting the beam diameter dynamically to match the diffraction volume within the crystal. Complex multi-position and multi-crystal data collections have now also been integrated into the selection of experiments available. This has led to increased data quality and throughput, allowing even the most challenging samples to be treated automatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Svensson
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Maciej Gilski
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Didier Nurizzo
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Matthew W. Bowler
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
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8
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Papp G, Rossi C, Janocha R, Sorez C, Lopez-Marrero M, Astruc A, McCarthy A, Belrhali H, Bowler MW, Cipriani F. Towards a compact and precise sample holder for macromolecular crystallography. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 73:829-840. [PMID: 28994412 PMCID: PMC5633908 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317013742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most of the sample holders currently used in macromolecular crystallography offer limited storage density and poor initial crystal-positioning precision upon mounting on a goniometer. This has now become a limiting factor at high-throughput beamlines, where data collection can be performed in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, this lack of precision limits the potential benefits emerging from automated harvesting systems that could provide crystal-position information which would further enhance alignment at beamlines. This situation provided the motivation for the development of a compact and precise sample holder with corresponding pucks, handling tools and robotic transfer protocols. The development process included four main phases: design, prototype manufacture, testing with a robotic sample changer and validation under real conditions on a beamline. Two sample-holder designs are proposed: NewPin and miniSPINE. They share the same robot gripper and allow the storage of 36 sample holders in uni-puck footprint-style pucks, which represents 252 samples in a dry-shipping dewar commonly used in the field. The pucks are identified with human- and machine-readable codes, as well as with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. NewPin offers a crystal-repositioning precision of up to 10 µm but requires a specific goniometer socket. The storage density could reach 64 samples using a special puck designed for fully robotic handling. miniSPINE is less precise but uses a goniometer mount compatible with the current SPINE standard. miniSPINE is proposed for the first implementation of the new standard, since it is easier to integrate at beamlines. An upgraded version of the SPINE sample holder with a corresponding puck named SPINEplus is also proposed in order to offer a homogenous and interoperable system. The project involved several European synchrotrons and industrial companies in the fields of consumables and sample-changer robotics. Manual handling of miniSPINE was tested at different institutes using evaluation kits, and pilot beamlines are being equipped with compatible robotics for large-scale evaluation. A companion paper describes a new sample changer FlexED8 (Papp et al., 2017, Acta Cryst., D73, 841-851).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Papp
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Christopher Rossi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Robert Janocha
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Clement Sorez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Marcos Lopez-Marrero
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthony Astruc
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Andrew McCarthy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Hassan Belrhali
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Matthew W Bowler
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Florent Cipriani
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
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