New equipment for Monash’s Protein Crystallography Unit

Monash University has purchased a Rigaku CrystalMation automated protein crystallisation system, a modified HighFlux HomeLab with R-AXIS IV++ imaging plate detector and a MicroMax-007 HF X-ray source to upgrade its Protein Crystallography Unit within the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology.

The Protein Crystallography Unit was established at Monash University in 2002 by Professor Rossjohn, Australian Research Council Federation Fellow. The unit is made up of a large number of independent groups, comprising about 70 researchers. Their research is focused on understanding events relevant to biomedical health, including infection, immunity and cancer, and their findings have been published in Nature, Science and Nature Immunology.

The system was chosen by Profs. Rossjohn and Wilce of Monash University as an upgrade for their in-house crystallisation laboratory and X-ray diffraction laboratory facilities and in support of macromolecular crystallographic studies carried out by researchers at Monash University and their collaborative partners, which seek to understand the structure, function and interactions of biologically important molecules at the atomic, molecular and supra-molecular level.

Rigaku's CrystalMation is a fully integrated platform for protein crystallisation, automating every step from custom screen making to crystallisation trial imaging and analysis. Due to its modular design, CrystalMation can be configured to meet a wide range of requirements and grow with changing needs. Each of the workstations is available as a standalone instrument or in combination with one or more additional components.

The Rigaku HighFlux HomeLab is part of a family of ‘home laboratory’ solutions providing macromolecular X-ray crystallographers with everything from fully automated crystal screening to high-throughput structure determination.