Protein crystallisation is a highly specialised and valued technique in the field of structural biology. Crystallising proteins to determine their molecular structures is widely used for projects with a structural biology element, especially those with a structure-based drug design focus. The Bio21-WEHI Crystallisation Facility was established in early 2023 to provide access to protein crystallisation equipment and services in Melbourne's Parkville Biomedical Precinct, and beyond. This facility is a joint venture between WEHI and The University of Melbourne, with support from the ACRF Facility for Innovative Cancer Drug Discovery. The facility is located in the Bio21 Institute and hosts equipment for drop setting, screen building, plate storage and imaging. Services offered include initial crystallisation screening in a sitting drop, 96 well format with the choice from ~30 commercial crystallisation screens, lipidic cubic phase crystallisation of membrane proteins and dispensing of the optimisation of hit conditions. Scheduled plate imaging with visible and UV light is provided with all crystallisation services. Visible light imaging allows tracking of crystal growth and imaging with UV assists in determining if your crystals consist mainly of protein or salt. The facility will also offer plate compatibility for in-plate screening and data collection at the Australian Synchrotron on the MX3 Beamline.
Acknowledgements:
Funding for the Bio21-WEHI Crystallisation Facility was provided by WEHI, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and the University of Melbourne.