Protein crystallography hanging drop multiwell plate
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorMa Sha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention includes a microplate for performing crystallography studies. In particular, the microplate has a frame that includes a plurality of wells formed therein. Each well includes a first well and a second well. The first well includes a relatively large reservoir capable of receiving a reagent solution. The second well includes a relatively small reservoir having a substantially concaved form capable of receiving a protein solution and a reagent solution. The second well is suspended above the first well such that space on the plate is conserved and to enable protein crystal growth utilizing a hanging drop vapor diffusion crystallization process.
Claims18
A multiwell plate, comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, each well including:
- a first well having a relatively large volume;
- a second well having a relatively small volume positioned such that the second well is suspended above at least some portion of the first well;
- and
- said second well has a hole therethrough at a lower most point whereby said hole is sized such that liquid is prevented from passing through due to surface tension.
A protein crystallography plate, comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, each well including:
- a first well capable of receiving a reagent solution;
- a second well having a substantially concaved form capable of receiving a protein solution and a reagent solution;
- said second well located over at least a portion of said first well;
- said second well has a hole therethrough at a lower most point whereby said hole is sized such that the protein solution and the reagent solution are prevented from passing through due to surface tension;
- wherein the reagent solution in said first well has a higher concentration than the reagent solution within said second well;
- and
- wherein the protein solution and the reagent solution within said second well interact with the reagent solution within said first well via a vapor diffusion process which enables the formation of protein crystals within said second well.
A method for using a microplate to form protein crystals, said method comprising the steps of:
- prepping the microplate which includes a frame having a plurality of wells formed therein, each well including:
- a first well having a relatively large volume;
- a second well having a relatively small volume positioned such that the second well is suspended above at least some portion of the first well;
- and
- said second well has a hole therethrough at a lower most point whereby said hole is sized such that liquid is prevented from passing through due to surface tension, said step of prepping further includes:
- depositing into the first well a reagent solution;
- and
- depositing into the second well a protein reagent and a reagent solution;
- and
- sealing an opening of each well to enable the protein solution and the reagent solution within said second well to interact with the reagent solution within said first well via a vapor diffusion process which enables the formation of protein crystals within said second well.
A multiwell plate, comprising:
- a frame including a plurality of wells formed therein, each well including:
- a first well having a relatively large volume;
- a second well having a relatively small volume positioned such that the second well is located above at least some portion of the first well;
- and
- said second well has a hole therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.