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Winner of the Douglas Instruments competition for the best use of crystallization plates.Douglas Instruments is very happy to announce the winner of the first round of its competition for the best use of its Vapor Batch and Crystal Clear crystallization plates. The prize was won by the only entrant, Dr. Lesley Haire, from the National Institute of Medical Research, London, UK. Lesley showed that the Vapor Batch plates are ideal for growing and harvesting crystals that require volatile organic materials such as isopropanol. Crystals of a hexameric form of the NTD of the capsid protein of N-MLV were grown by dispensing protein and PEG into wells on the Vapor Batch plate. The drops were covered with "Al's Oils" (a 50:50 mixture of silicone and paraffin oils). Isopropanol solution was placed in the trough around the outside of the plate, so that the isopropanol could diffuse through the oil into the drops. The great advantage of this approach is that the oil becomes saturated with isopropanol, and it helps to protect the crystals during harvesting. Lesley used the same approach in screening experiments with the proteins haemagglutinin and catalase, with good results. The winning entry can be
found at http://www.douglas.co.uk/winner1.htm
and the full publication in Douglas Instruments plans to re-run the competition at the end of 2005. All entries are welcome - see the competition rules at http://www.douglas.co.uk/vb-comp.htm Patrick Shaw Stewart |
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©2008 Douglas Instruments Ltd |
