Protein Crystallography Services: Crystallization & Structure Determination Workflow
Our extensive expertise in protein crystallography and crystallization services spans various protein target classes, allowing us to consistently deliver high-quality results for structural biology and drug discovery projects.
Protein Crystallography workflow
Below, we outline the typical workflow for our protein crystallography services. Our project types include gene-to-structure, protein-ligand co-crystallization, antibody, and antibody-antigen complex crystallization and structure determination. Leveraging our libraries of off-the-shelf structures (FastLane™ Premium and FastLane™ Standard), we accelerate our clients’ projects by offering hundreds of protein targets with validated expression, purification, and crystallization protocols. Sometimes, clients prefer to send samples produced in their laboratories. The information on this page and our sample handling and shipping guide can provide helpful details on preparing and sending samples.
If you are ready to benefit from our protein X-ray crystallography services, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the provided contact form for further details.
High-Throughput Protein Crystallization
To ensure the protein crystallography project is successful, several essential requirements must be fulfilled to obtain crystallization-grade protein. These requirements are general, we provide them here in case a client decides to send own samples for the protein crystallography project.
First, the protein must be well-folded, stable, and soluble within a given temperature, concentration, and pH range. Before crystallization, the solution must be monodisperse, i.e., containing no denatured or aggregated material. The protein solution may be characterized using the following biophysical methods:
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
- Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy
- Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF, similar to thermal shift assay)
- Protein NMR spectroscopy
Monodispersity, which DLS assesses, is crucial in protein crystallography. CD spectroscopy is used to verify secondary structure content to ensure that the structure of the purified protein is intact. In contrast, DSF is used to assess the molecule’s stability in different buffer solutions and at different temperatures. This helps in the preparation of the solutions for crystallization & crystallography. In NMR spectroscopy, the HSQC fingerprint spectrum shows whether the protein is well-folded, unfolded at a given temperature, or if some parts of the molecule are highly flexible. Our staff follows specific protocols during all the experiments to maximize their efficiency. The results of the measurements are subsequently used to decide whether the protein is suitable for a crystallography project or if some modifications in the cloning and purification protocols are necessary.
An example of a product sheet for one of our crystallization-grade Protein Shop proteins can be downloaded here.
Searching for the Crystallization Conditions
We can start protein crystallization if we are satisfied with the protein’s state in the solution. However, many other factors may potentially affect crystallization. To find these conditions, high-throughput crystallization screens are run to identify the best buffer combination for a specific crystallography project. Commercial screens, like those from Hampton Research or Molecular Dimensions, are initially used. In addition, the initial conditions usually need to be optimized to obtain well-diffracting single crystals for subsequent structure determination. The large number of buffer conditions used in the screening reflects the large number of parameters and combinations of the parameters that may affect the crystallization. The most common protocols rely on the variation of the different conditions, the most common being:
- Type of buffer and its pH
- Ionic strength
- The presence of various salts in the solution
- The presence of ligands (co-factors, substrate analogs, inhibitors)
- The type of precipitant used (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ammonium sulfate are the most common), etc.
Our protein crystallography services routinely use high-throughput and high-precision liquid handling and imaging robotics to set up the initial crystallization screens and optimize newly identified conditions. With robotics, we can screen 96 conditions using as little as 15 microL of protein sample, saving time and precious material. Temperature is a vital crystallization parameter, and in the lab, we control it by storing the crystallization plates in plate hotels with an imaging system, such as the Formulatrix Rock Imager.
If you need more information on our services, please contact us using the contact form.
Protein Crystalography Workflow: X-ray Diffraction Data Collection And Structure Determination
Protein crystallization is only the first step in a crystallography project. Once we have obtained the crystals, we will test them in an X-ray beam to collect X-ray diffraction data. For our protein crystallography services projects, we primarily collect X-ray diffraction data at the BioMax beamline at MAX IV Laboratory, one of the world’s best synchrotrons, conveniently located just a few kilometers from our labs in Lund. Our services also include sending the crystals to other synchrotrons in Europe.
Protein crystallography needs phase information to determine the protein structure. The phases cannot be obtained directly from the X-ray diffraction image, which only registers intensities of the scattered X-rays. When a protein has been crystallized and an experimental structure already exists, the molecular replacement method is used in to obtain the phase information. These phases enable us to calculate an electron density map required for building a protein model. We then refine the model to ensure that the finer details of the structure, such as the positions of protein and ligand atoms, are well defined. Our services platform is optimized to carry out all these processes promptly and efficiently.
Molecular replacement significantly accelerates the protein crystallography process. In some instances, models generated by the AlphaFold project can also be utilized for initial phasing. However, in cases where a reliable model is not available, experimental methods are employed to obtain phase information. Typically, a selenomethionine (SeMet)-labeled protein sample, which can be produced upon the client’s request, enables structure determination using synchrotron radiation in conjunction with the method of anomalous scattering of X-rays. This means a SeMet-labeled sample will be required for the protein crystallization and crystallography services project.
Please visit our educational site for a more extensive review of the method of protein crystallography. To contact us directly, use the contact form or visit our X-ray crystallography services page for more details.