Methods and apparatus for performing array microcrystallizations

A method for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a hanging drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter;
• storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array;
• and
• detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops.

A method for performing arrat microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a sitting drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter;
• storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array;
• and
• detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops.

A method for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• forming a first array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the drop having a volume of less than 1 microliter;
• storing the first array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the drops in the array;
• detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops;
• forming a second array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a drop comprising a molecule to be crystallized and a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and is based on one or more mother liquor solutions used in the first array in which molecule crystals were detected;
• storing the second array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form drops in the array;
• and
• detecting molecule crystal formation in the drops.

A method for forming submicroliter drops for use in an array microcrystallization to determine suitable crystallizationi conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• delivering to a plurality of drop regions within a volume range of less than about 25 nl submicroliter volues of mother liquor solutions whose compositions vary within the array;
• and
• delivering to the plurality of drop regions submicroliter volumes of a solution containing a molecule to be crystallized within a volume range of less than about 25 nL;
• wherein a total volume of the submicroliter volumes delivered to each drop region is less than 1 microliter.

A method for forming submicroliter hanging drops on cover slips for use in an array microcrystallization to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• taking a plurality of coverslips;
• removing mother liquor from a plurality of wells of a multiwell plate;
• delivering submicroliter volumes of the mother liquor to the plurality of coverslips within a volume range of less than about 25 nL;
• and
• delivering submicroliter volumes of a solution containing molecule to be crystallized to the plurality of coverslips within a volume range of less than about 25 nL;
• wherein a total volume of the submicroliter volumes delivered to each coverslip is less than 1 microliter.

A method for forming a submicroliter sitting drops for use in an array microcrystallization to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• taking a multiwell plate comprising a plurality of regions, each region including a sitting drop region and a well comprising liquor solution whose composition varies within the regions of the multiwell plate;
• delivering submicroliter volumes of the mother liquor solutions from the wells to the sitting drop regions within a volume range of less than about 25 nL;
• and
• delivering submicroliter volumes of a solution containing a molecule to be crystallized to the sitting drop regions within a volume range of less than about 25 nL;
• wherein a total volume of the submicroliter volumes delivered to each sitting drop reguib is less than 1 microliter.

A method for performing array microcrystallizations to determine suitable crystallization conditions for a molecule, the method comprising:

• forming an array of microcrystallizations, each microcrystallization comprising a microcrystallization volume comprising a mother liquor solution whose composition varies within the array and a molecule to be crystallized, the microcrystallization volume having a volume of less than 1 microliter;
• storing the array of microcrystallizations under conditions suitable for molecule crystals to form in the microcrystallization volumes;
• and
• detecting molecule crystal formation in the microcrystallization volumes.