Microbatch macromolecular crystallization on a thermal gradient

We can exploit the temperature dependence of protein solubility in a blind search for optimal crystallization conditions by conducting experiments on thermal gradients. A microbatch technique coupled with a specially construc ted thermal gradient allows us to conduct polythermal experiments over the range 6-30 degrees C using as little as 7 mu l of solution. The crystalliza tion vessel is a micropipette commonly used in blood testing labs. As many as 150 simultaneous experiments can be conducted on a gradient machined out of a 200 x 250 x 25 mm aluminium plate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.