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"On the same morning that FedEx delivered a protein sample from collaborators, the Crystallization Facility set up four screens for me.  I found crystals in those trays the same afternoon and was able to collect diffraction data that evening. Our collaborators were amazed that we were able to verify the structural integrity of their design within 24 hours, much due to the professionalism of the UCLA Crystallization Facility."

Michael Sawaya, PhD, UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Institute of Genomics and Proteomics

Crystallization Core Facility

The UCLA Crystallization Facility provides state-of-the-art, high-throughput, crystallization services to all institutions. The full-service core offers access to sophisticated equipment and technologies, and technical assistance in sample preparation. The facility will provide screen preparation, plate setup, automated image acquisition and analysis, and optimization design. Our high-throughput set up can produce 18,000 experiments in a single day. 

• Consultation and technical assistance available to researchers prior to, and following, experiments.

• Automatic setup of 3000 crystallization conditions per hour using 400uL of sample. (Hanging or Sitting Drops)
• Automatic setup of crystallization conditions by nanoscale free interface diffusion (FID) using the Fluidigm Topaz system.
• Capable of distinguishing between organic and inorganic crystals using a sophisticated UV/vis microscope.
• Optimization of crystallization conditions using robotics to prepare fine grids.
• Optimization of crystallization conditions using a library of 384 commercial compounds.
• Storage of plates in temperature controlled incubators at 4°, 15°, and 20° C.

Facility Equipment 

• TTP LabTech Mosquito nanodispenser robot capable of setting hanging and sitting drops at a rate of 288 conditions every 2.9 minutes.
• Tecan Genesis 200 to prepare crystallization kits and to generate optimization conditions.
• Korima PRS-1000 UV microscope capable of distinguishing organics from salt crystals.

• Emerald BioSystems Crystal Monitor microscope workstation with automated image capture.
• Tecan TEMO for mother-daughter replication and to dispense solutions from commercial kits.
• Emerald BioSystems Matrix Maker used for creating optimizations of initial crystallization conditions.
• Commercial Screen Formulations available in 96 well format. 

Sample Preparation Requirements

A basic Requirement for macromolecular crystallization is sample purity better than 98% as detected by SDS gel and/or Mass Spectroscopy. The presence of secondary bands in the gels or other contaminants will decrease the success rate. The optimal protein concentration is around 10 mg/ml but other concentrations can be accepted as long as the technical staff is notified. The normal turn around is 24 hours. Special optimization conditions may require more time. We recommend to centrifuge the sample shortly before the crystallization trials starts.

Fee Structure

To recover the cost of chemicals, consumables and service contracts for the robotics, the following fee structure will be charged to external researchers:

• Crystallization tray with 96 commercial solutions, 3 drop experiment, 288 conditions: $40
• Crystallization tray with 96 optimization matrix, 1 drop experiment, 96 conditions: $43
• Crystallization tray with 96 additive screens, 1 drop experiment, 96 conditions: $43

Mode of Operation

The Crystallization Core Facility is managed by Michael J. Collazo, with support from James Bowie and Duilio Cascio.