EasyXtal 15-Well Tools

EasyXtal 15-well Tools are easy to use, high-performance protein crystallization devices. The 15-Well format is very useful for optimization experiments. The central well can serve as a control well containing the initial hit solution. The 14 wells around the central position can be used as a grid of systematic changes from the original solution (e.g., precipitant concentration or pH). This setup makes results easy to interpret.

EasyXtal 15-Well Tools are available with standard, X-Seal, DropGuard, or DropGuard X-Seal Crystallization Support (see figure "EasyXtal crystallization tools and supports"). The X-Seal, which is made from an advanced O-ring material, minimizes evaporation and prolongs the reuse of reservoir solutions. DropGuard crystallization supports enable easy setup of multiple drops per well and eliminate problems of drop spreading while using organic chemicals such as MPD or detergents. Three cavities in each support can be used to accommodate 1 μl + 1 μl drops or 2 μl + 2 μl drops. The cavities isolate drops and prevent contact among them, enabling easy recovery of crystals without disrupting neighboring drops (see figure "Setting up crystallization trials using DropGuard crystallization supports"). For larger protein drops (up to 5+5 µl), the standard crystallization supports are recommended.

NeXtal Tubes offer Screening Solutions in a bulk format (10 ml tubes). The solutions can be used for manual setup of EasyXtal 15-well Tools by transferring 500 µl into the reservoir wells. Protein solution and reservoir solutions are pipetted onto the crystallization support which is then screwed onto the EasyXtal 15-well tool.

EasyXtal 15-Well Tools facilitate applications such as optimization and upscaling of successful hits obtained with 96-well formats, soaking with cryoprotectants or ligands, ligand screening in rational drug design procedures, and seeding experiments.