Crystal Growth Workshop has Crystallizing Results
From X6AWiki
Hailing from as far as Australia, 40 researchers shared the complexity of the protein crystal growth process with leaders in the field at the "Crystallization: Focus on Optimization and High Throughput Techniques" workshop. The fourth annual course took place at the NSLS from June 12-15, 2006. Organized by Vivian Stojanoff (NSLS) and Naomi Chayen (Imperial College London), with help from scientists Fabiano Yokaichiya (NSLS) and Jean Jakoncic (NSLS), East Coast NIGMS Structural Biology Research Facility, and Stony Brook intern Matthew Worth, the workshop included a record-number of 11 hands-on tutorials for participants to choose from.
The purpose of the three-day course was to help researchers obtain high-quality protein crystals through both conventional and non-conventional methods including the use of oils, novel nucleating agents, detergents, crystallization in lipid cubic phase, crystallization with gels and high throughput techniques. Participants were divided into groups of three or four, according to their main interests, and followed practical sessions during the course. Researchers chose seven of the 11 sessions to attend whereas last year's course offered eight sessions.
"What's unique about this course is that it is a real hands-on experience," Stojanoff said. "You really get to try these things out yourself." This unique aspect inspired about a third of the participants to bring their own proteins on which they tried different methods. A few participants actually produced crystals from the proteins they brought, which were screened on beamline X6A on the last day of the workshop.
Experts in the academic and industrial crystallization field gave a series of talks and tutorials. Neer Asherie (Yeshiva University) discussed "Understanding Protein Phase Behavior," Marie-Claude Marchand (Qiagen Inc.) discussed "The Vapor Diffusion Method and Optimization," Gwen Nneji (Imperial College of London) discussed "Non-standard Crystallization Techniques," Pat Loll (Drexel University) discussed "Membrane Proteins and Detergents," Peter Nollert (Emerald BioSystems) discussed "Micro Crystallization using the Lipidic Cubic Phase Methodology," Ingo Grotjohann (Arizona State University) discussed "The Role of the Phase Diagram in the Crystallization of PSI and PSII," and Abel Moreno (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) discussed "Gels and Fields: What Can They Say About the Phase Diagram?"
Practical sessions also included talks by Troy Burke (GE Healthcare), Marcia Armstrong (Qiagen Inc.), Trevor Harvard (Precision Detectors), Craig Sterling (Emerald BioSystems), Chris Gawronski (Fluidigm), Fabrice Gorrec (SGC), and NSLS Interim Chairman Chi-Chang Kao, who gave participants an introduction to the light source facility.
In addition, by request of last year's participants, a special session on cryogenic protection and quality assessment of crystals was conducted at beamline X6A on the last day of the workshop. Seetharaman Jayaraman (Columbia Universtiy) introduced the topic and conducted demonstrations in the New York Structural Biology Center Laboratory.
The course attracted researchers with all levels of crystallization experience, including current NSLS users who have previously encountered problems with their crystals. "The course brings new people and awareness to companies about the NSLS and mutual benefits we can have," Stojanoff said.
One participant commented on the course survey: "It is better than a conference. In a conference, people present results, but in this workshop, we are shown how to get results."
Stojanoff stressed her appreciation to the following groups that allowed the use of their labs and time: New York Structural Biology Center, Case Center for Proteomics, the X19C PRT, X17 PRT, X19A PRT, NSLS staff, NSLS User Administration, and the NSLS Outreach Office. Major sponsors included GE HealthCare, Qiagen, Precision Detectors, Emerald Biosystems, and Fluidigm. Additional support was provided by Hampton Research, Douglas Instruments, Anatrace, Millipore, Eppendorf, and New York New Jersey Scientific.
ARTICLE FROM: http://www.nsls.bnl.gov/newsroom/news/2006/07-Crys_Workshop.htm
RELATED LINKS: Workshop Photos
ARTICLE BY: Kendra Snyder
PHOTOS BY: Roger Stoutenburgh
