SpectroQ

Automated Plate Imaging

Traditionally, DLS has been used for pre-crystallisation studies of protein solutions in cuvettes. When many samples are queued, this becomes a tedious and time-consuming procedure. SpectroQ facilitates the visual inspection of samples in SBS format plates or microplates by making this an automatic or machine-assisted procedure. However, the main advantage that makes the instrument unique is the built-in DLS instrumentation suitable for in plate applications. The application of DLS via SpectroQ is mainly used for size distribution studies of protein solutions in small volumes of 0.5 µl in vapour batch plates sealed with paraffin oil. The ability to quickly assess protein behaviour in many different buffers prior to screening for crystallisation conditions significantly increases the success rate of crystallisation. A suitable buffer, in which the protein is stable over time, supports successful crystallisation. Key features include the unrivalled small sample volume per well, which increases the efficiency of the assay. On the other hand, long-term stability is achieved by keeping the sample droplet under paraffin oil, which prevents evaporation of the aliquot for months.

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