New Flexus Crystal IMP brings a Breakthrough in Structural Biology
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The Anachem Flexus is a flexible platform that can provide complete automation for a wide variety of liquid handling applications. The latest model to be unveiled by Anachem is the only commercially available automated instrument for Cubic Phase in meso Protein Crystallography.
Designed specifically for speed and careful handling, the Flexus Crystal IMP embraces a technique that is otherwise difficult and laborious to perform manually, Anachem claims.
One method for successful crystallization of membrane proteins exploits the ability of lipids to form liquid crystals or mesophases. However, the method has not been widely adopted as it is difficult to perform. Problems include the need to manipulate an extremely viscous lipidic cubic phase and accurately positioning the precipitant on top of the cubic phase.
Now with Flexus Crystal IMP the practical difficulties of preparing the cubic phase are overcome and completely automated. The system uses a syringe mounted onto a fully integrated micro-syringe pump situated on the arm of the robotic platform. This enables successful mixing to produce a homogeneous sample.
The mixed cubic phase is transferred directly to the micro-pump and dispensed onto a glass slide with precipitant dispensed directly on top. Plates can now be prepared in less than 10 minutes allowing high throughput trials that require minimal amounts of protein.
Designed specifically for speed and careful handling, the Flexus Crystal IMP embraces a technique that is otherwise difficult and laborious to perform manually, Anachem claims.
One method for successful crystallization of membrane proteins exploits the ability of lipids to form liquid crystals or mesophases. However, the method has not been widely adopted as it is difficult to perform. Problems include the need to manipulate an extremely viscous lipidic cubic phase and accurately positioning the precipitant on top of the cubic phase.
Now with Flexus Crystal IMP the practical difficulties of preparing the cubic phase are overcome and completely automated. The system uses a syringe mounted onto a fully integrated micro-syringe pump situated on the arm of the robotic platform. This enables successful mixing to produce a homogeneous sample.
The mixed cubic phase is transferred directly to the micro-pump and dispensed onto a glass slide with precipitant dispensed directly on top. Plates can now be prepared in less than 10 minutes allowing high throughput trials that require minimal amounts of protein.
