Purdue Center for Macromolecular Crystallography (PCMC)  

    The Purdue Center for Macromolecular Crystallograghy (PCMC)  provides instrumentation and expertise used by researchers to perform high-throughput crystallization screening, data collection, and structure determination of proteins, viruses, and nucleic acids. The PCMC consists of a crystallization core in HOCK 284 with state-of-the-art automated instrumentation for growing crystals, and a diffraction core in 289 with a newly installed X-ray diffractometer for rapid in-house data collection on crystals for structure determination. The PCMC also offers staff assistance and training and we can also collaborate on projects for non-crystallographers.

    To initiate new projects, instrument access, and training, contact Tim Schmidt (Lab manager) (tschmidt@purdue.edu) or Nick Noinaj (Director) (nnoinaj@purdue.edu). For those with little or no background in X-ray crystallography, we provide assistance in understanding the basic fundamentals of X-ray crystallography. And for those who want a deep dive, you can considering taking the 'Introduction to X-ray Crystallography' course taught each spring semester by Dr. Noinaj.

      All reservations and billing are now managed through iLabs.
    • • For New Users and Projects: Contact either Tim or Nick to inquire about new experiments and projects.
    • • For Purdue individuals: First-time users should click "Sign-up" in upper right. Returning users will click "Login".
    • • For Non-Purdue individuals: Before you register, you must be assigned a Business Partner Number and given Purdue credentials to register/login. Please contact the center manager for further information.


     

    • Structure determination using X-ray diffraction of macromolecules including viruses, proteins, and nucleic acids.
    • Structure determination using X-ray diffraction of protein-protein, protein-ligand, protein-nucleic acid complexes.
    • Biophysical characterization of macromolecules for structure determination.
    • Structure determination of membrane proteins using various methods including lipic cubic phase (LCP) crystallization.
    • High-throughput crystallization with ready-to-use individual screens for rapid screening using state-of-the-art robotics.
    • Robotics for both sitting drop and hanging drop high-throughput crystallization.
    • Room-sized incubation rooms with individual storage bins for safe and secure incubation of crystallization experiments.
    • Fully automated imaging of high-throughput crystallization experiments at either 4°C or 20°C with remote access to images and autoscoring features for crystal detection.
    • Crystal screening and data collection using our MicroMax 007 X-ray diffractometer for same-day collection and structure determination.
    • Remote or on-site data collection at a national synchrotron source (APS, ANL, SSRL, NSLSII).
    • Facility workstations for structure determination with access to full suite of crystallography software packages.
    • Staff-assisted data collection, data processing, structure determination, and structure analysis and presentation.

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    :: Biophysical Analysis ::

    Chirascan V100 Circular Dichroism Spectrometer (Applied Photophysics) (HOCK 163C) ::
    This instrument can be used for analysis of samples in solution to determine secondary structure components, and can be used to monitor thermal stability of samples. Usage requires a 1-time setup fee.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr, plus set up fee ($29.28). Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $10.38/hr, plus set up fee ($29.28).


    :: Macromolecular Crystallization ::

    ALPS 3000 automated plate head sealer (ThermoFisher Scientific) (HOCK 284) ::
    This instrument is used to heat seal SDS-format plates for various applications. Seals are specific to the plate type, so be sure to check with staff beforehand to ensure an appropriate seal is installed prior to use. Located in HOCK 284.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr. Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $15.00/hr.


    Versette Automated Liquid Handling Instrument (ThermoFisher Scientific) (HOCK 284) ::
    The automated pipetting robot can be used for plate copying from 96-well SDS-format deepwell blocks to other blocks or plates. Usage requires user to purchase or use their own instrument tips.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr. Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $20.00/hr.


    Scorpion Single-channel Automated Pipetting Robot (Art Robbins Instruments) (HOCK 284) ::
    This is an automated liquid handling pipetting robot with a single channel for highly automated jobs for rapid, precise, and reproducible pipetting. Users much provide their own tips or purchase from the PCMC.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr. Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $16.48/hr.


    Mosquito-LCP automated crystallization robot (SPT Labtech) (HOCK 307) ::
    This robot can be used for setting up sitting drop and hanging drop crystallization experiments using many different plate formats (96-well SDS format) and drop sizes and ratios (lowest pipetting volume 25 nL). This instrument uses disposable pipette tips that are charge separately based on usage in the log book.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr. Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $15.38/hr.


    Rock Imager 1 (Formulatrix) (HOCK 284) ::
    This robot can be used for automated imaging of 96-well crystallization plates (hanging drop and sitting drop). This robot is house in HOCK 284 and is at ambient room temperature. Plates must be manually barcoded and loaded/unloaded. For automated imaging, please see the Rock Imager 1000 Duo.

    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $58.55/hr. Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $10.26/hr.


    :: X-ray Diffraction ::

    MicroMax 007 X-ray Diffractometer (Rigaku/Dectris) (HOCK 289) ::
    An X-ray beam ~100 times stronger than our previous systems, with a beam size of ~100 microns and equipped with an Eiger photon counting detector. Optimized for macromolecular crystallography.

    Features of the new system include:

    • MicroMax-007 HF rotating anode (Rigaku)
    • Confocal VariMax-VHF Arc)Sec optics
    • Eiger2 R 4M photon counting detector (Dectris)
    • Oxford Crosystems cryogenic crystal cooler


    Fee for use (with staff assistance) :: $16.39 equipment use, plus Staff Assist $58.55/hr, plus set up fee ($29.28). Fee for use (trained user, no staff assistance) :: $16.39/hr, plus set up fee ($29.28). Fee for use (PICR member, no staff assistance) :: $2.22/hr, plus set up fee ($29.28).



     

    :: Macromolecular Crystallization ::

    Crystallization Tray Singles (HOCK 307) ::
    96-well hanging drop crystallization plates including: MCSG-1, MCSG-2, MCSG-3, MCSG-4, ShotGun SG1, LMB, TOP-96, AmSO4, Index HT, PEGs, PEGs II, PEG/Ion HT, Morpheus HT, MidasPlus HT, Wizard 1+2 HT, Wizard 3+4 HT, MPD, SaltRx HT, ProPLex HT, PACT premier HT, MemGold HT, MemGold 2 HT, MemFacHT, Memstart/Sys

    $40/plate; users must provide their own crystallization cover sheets or purchase from the PCMC.


    Incubator Room Storage Bin (HOCK 284) ::
    Crystallization tray incubator storage bins (cubbies) at 4, 12, and 20 deg C.

    Each storage bin is charged $2.34/mo.


    Liquid Nitrogen Fill Station (HOCK 289) ::
    Use the log sheet to monitor how much liquid nitrogen you use. This will be billed monthly.

    Fee :: $1.06/L.


    Rock Imager 1000 Duo (Formulatrix) (HOCK 284) ::
    This robot is used for automated imaging and scoring of 96-well crystallization plates (hanging drop and sitting drop) on a set schedule up to 30 days. This robot contains a plate hotel that will hold up to 960 plates for each temperature 4 deg C and 20 deg C. Plates must be manually barcoded and loaded/unloaded into either the 4 deg C or 20 deg C unit. A Rock Maker Web interface is used to access and view the images remotely.

    Fee for use :: $5.00/plate for 30 days.


    Mosquito-LCP Tips ::
    Charge :: $0.10/tip. Please add your tip usage to the logsheet; this will be billed separately each month.


    SETUP FEE :: MicroMax 007 X-ray Diffractometer (Rigaku/Dectris) ::
    1-Time Setup Fee :: $29.28.


    SETUP FEE :: Chirascan V100 Circular Dichroism Spectrometer (Applied Photophysics) ::
    1-Time Setup Fee :: $29.28.


    Training/Assisted Use Fee ::
    Fee for training or other staff assistance; charge per hour. Charged at $58.55/hr.



     


    Dr. Nick Noinaj, Director
    Phone: 765-496-0061
    Email: nnoinaj@purdue.edu


    Tim Schmidt, Lab Manager
    Phone: 765-496-3131
    Email: tschmidt@purdue.edu


     


    Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology
    240 S. Martin Jischke Dr.
    West Lafayette, IN
    47907-1971


    • HOCK 284 :: Macromolecular Crystallization Core
    • HOCK 289 :: X-ray Diffraction Core
    • HOCK 307 :: Mosquito-LCP Crystallization Robot
    • HOCK 163C :: Chirascan CD Spectrometer

     

Latest News

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CryoEM @ Purdue Posted 12 April 2019
cryoAPEX Posted 09 April 2019
ZIKA EXPOSED Posted 26 June 2018

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About SCBB

Our group uses a wide variety of experimental approaches ranging from X-ray crystallography, NMR, Cryo-electron microscopy, electron tomography, and advanced spectroscopic techniques for examining and determining molecular structures, to computational techniques as they apply to nucleic acid and protein structures, bioinformatics, genomics and systems biology including molecular dynamics, machine learning, and network analysis.