MRC-LMB Crystallisation Facility:
plates developed at MRC

We have designed crystallisation plates for nano to microlitre sitting drop vapour diffusion and batch (under oil) experiments.

The plates incorporate a number of improvements over other plates that we identified while using our high-throughput facility.

The design notably facilitate crystal assessment and extraction with integrated lens that are easy to access with microloops. In addition, the main dimensions are similar and hence switching between different plates is straightforward.

Other characteristics are described in the sections below, and on this poster (2010).

The crystallisation plates were developed in collaboration with SWISSCI and commercialised under an exclusive licence from the MRC.

Plates can be purchased at Molecular Dimensions, Hampton Research, and JenaBioScience.

Note that we are using exclusively the original MRC 2-lens (MRC96T-UVP) for initial screen and early optimisation (drops size 100-200 μL).

The original MRC Crystallisation Plate:

easy crystal retrieval Raised wide wells make the crystal mounting especially easy.
easy viewing The wells are wide conical and have a lens effect for perfect illumination.
The micro-numbering ensures you will never get lost again.
The optically superior polymer is even UV transmissible!
better sealing Wide partition walls between the wells give plenty of area for good sealing with tape.
wide range of volumes Typical volumes are 50-100 µl of reservoir and 10nl-5µl drop size.
SBS standard The plates are designed to the 96-well SBS standard for all common holders.

The MRC MAXI Crystallisation Plate:

automation friendly compatible with TTP Labtech Mosquito and Caliper i1000 as well as all 8-tip robots
easy crystal retrieval Raised wide conical wells make the crystal mounting especially easy.
48 wells ideal for optimisation, 8 x 6
large dops sizes drops up to 10 µl.
better sealing Wide partition walls between the wells give plenty of area for good sealing with tape.
same plastics as original MRC UVP or PS.
SBS standard The plates are designed to the SBS standard for all common holders.

The MRC Under Oil Crystallisation Plate:

no oil spreading 20 µl wells for oil
two experiments in one batch experiment when sealed with tape when seal is removed, the drops shrink
better viewing and retrieval wide wells
numbered wells the MRC plate advantage
SBS standard The plates are designed to the 96-well SBS standard for all common holders.

Back to Main Page

Last Updated 2/12/15