Microfabricated two-pin system for biomolecule crystallization

• US 20070054408A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cytonome Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cytonome Inc.
• Inventors: Gilbert, John, Trikha, Jaishree
• Application Number:
  US11/595,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054408A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/86
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/58 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00

Abstract

A two-pin liquid handling system for crystallizing biomolecules comprises a pair of interacting pins for holding a droplet of liquid therebetween. Each pin includes a tip spaced predetermined distance from the other pin to define a sample acquisition region. The two-pin liquid handling system includes a temperature and humidity control element for controlling the temperature of the sample acquisition region to cause transpiration of water to and from a droplet of biomolecule solution to promote crystallization of the biomolecule.

Claims

1. A method of crystallizing biomolecules, comprising:

providing a crystallizing structure for growing a crystal from a biomolecule solution;

forming a biomolecule crystal on the structure; and

freezing the crystal on the structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

observing the crystal on the structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the crystallizing structure comprises a first pin having a first tip and a second pin having a second tip spaced a predetermined separation distance from the first tip for holding the biomolecule solution therebetween.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the crystallizing structure includes a temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the biomolecule solution to promote formation of the biomolecule crystal.

5. A method of crystallizing a biomolecule comprising providing a crystallizing structure for growing a crystal from a biomolecule solution;

forming a biomolecule crystal on the structure under a set of crystallization conditions; and

observing the crystal on the structure.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of altering the crystallization conditions in response to the step of observing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of altering comprising varying the temperature of the crystallizing structure.

8. A method of determining optimal conditions for promoting crystallization of a biomolecule, comprising:

providing an array of devices for crystallizing biomolecules, wherein each device comprises two interacting pins for holding a sample therebetween;

forming an array of crystals in the devices by controlling crystallization conditions;

recording the crystallization conditions; and

observing the array of crystals formed in the devices.