Robotics for Automated Crystal Formation and Analysis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about robotics for automated crystal formation and analysis. The choice of crystallization and imaging systems depends on user needs and requirements. Stand-alone workstations will be most appropriate for laboratory efforts or for systems that require added flexibility. Integrated robotic systems will be necessary for more HT industrial needs but with a concurrent limitation on system flexibility and cost. Large-scale structure determination programs, such as the NIH-sponsored structural genomics consortia and other commercial ventures, are relying on the parallel processing of a large number of protein samples that can be completed with this newly developed automation. This ensures that the three-dimensional structure determination can be completed as rapidly as possible for the largest number of targets. Moreover, as with other scientific equipment, the systems described in this chapter will be improved further and the costs can be reduced. Finally, this chapter concludes that small-scale structure determination projects clearly benefit from using these or next-generation robotic workstations, not only for the reliability, lowered cost, and reproducibility that such systems provide, but also for their use in enabling larger explorations of structural space.