The Structural Biology Laboratory was inaugurated on the 25 th November 2002 during the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB) with funds provided by CSIR. The laboratory consists of a state-of-the-art X-ray crystallographic setup for macromolecular structure determination, SGI Fuel workstations
for molecular modeling and equipments for cloning, expression and
purification of macromolecules. The major components of the X-ray setup
are a rotating anode X-ray generator (Rigaku-MSC-RUH3R model), an imaging plate detector with osmic optics (X-ray research, Mar345-desk top beam line), cryocooler (Oxford cryosystems 700 series) and a chiller for the X-ray machine
(Haskris co.). The rotating anode generator (Rigaku-RuH3R model) is
used to generate high power x-rays for analyzing macromolecular
crystals. The X-rays are focused on the crystal sample using Osmic
optics and the diffraction data are collected using a Mar345-dtb image
plate detector. An Oxford cryosystems instrument (700 series) is being
used to flash freeze crystals at 100K.
The laboratory also has High-Throughput Robotic Crystallization Facilities, which
include two incubators (4ºand 20º C) for incubating the protein
crystallization plates. The incubated crystallization plates are
monitored and imaged by a Minstrel
III imager (Rigaku). Crystallization screens can be designed and the
images can be viewed using software called Crystal Trak.Alchemist
II is used for dispensing the deep well blocks which are used for the
expansion experiments. Hydra II
is used to dispense the reservoir solution from the deep well blocks in
to the crystallization plates. An Oryx
4 nano protein dispenser (Douglas Instruments) is used to dispense
the protein drops of volume ranging between 100nl and 2µl.
