Patent ID: 8105983
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of screening for an optimal buffer solution for crystallizing at least one protein comprising: (a) filling a plurality of microwell reservoirs on a microwell plate each with a test buffer, each microwell having a cover, and wherein the test buffers consisting of the set of 24 test buffers shown here in Table 1, (b) depositing a protein and a droplet of each of said buffers either on the cover or on a pedestal above the microwell reservoir in each microwell to form a protein solution droplet, wherein the test buffer in the droplet and the test buffer in the reservoir are the same, (c) covering each microwell with the cover, (d) incubating the plate at a temperature for conducting vapor dispersion of said protein solution droplet over a period of time, (e) detecting microwells having clear protein solution droplets, wherein test buffers yielding clear protein solution droplets identify a buffer having solubility for the protein, (f) evaluating any clear protein solution droplets for monodispersity in order to select the optimum solubility condition to crystallize the protein, wherein said clear protein solution droplets are protein solution droplets without any protein precipitation and wherein monodispersion is a droplet having a radius<5 nm and polydispersity<25%, whereby the evaluation comprising: (g) selecting the optimal test buffer and any additive solution for crystallizing at least one protein, wherein the optimal buffer is the buffer wherein the protein has the lowest radius and lowest polydispersity which thereby indicates an optimal buffer solution for crystallizing the protein.