Hello Leonard, one thing to test is whether transferring your crystals to a drop containing simply well solution also causes cracking. If yes, then the possibility exists that the absence of protein in solution is causing the trouble. In that case, you can transfer the crystals to oil: you'll be transferring the solution (with protein) in which the crystal grew as well, and slowly remove it without adding anything 'different'. However, if your crystals crack simply because they are mechanically fragile, then the oil may actually be worse.
Filip On Wed, Oct 26, 2011 at 9:46 AM, Leonard Thomas <lmtho...@ou.edu> wrote: > Hi All, > > I have run into a very sensitive crystals system when it comes to cryo > protecting them. I have run through the usual suspects and trays are going > to be setup with a cryo protectant as part of crystallization cocktail. The > one problem that seems to be occurring is that the crystals crack as soon > as they are transfered out of the original drop. I am running out of ideas > and really would love some new ones. > > Thanks in advance. > > Len > > Leonard Thomas Ph.D. > Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory Manager > University of Oklahoma > Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry > Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center > 101 Stephenson Parkway > Norman, OK 73019-5251 > > lmtho...@ou.edu > http://barlywine.chem.ou.edu > Office: (405)325-1126 > Lab: (405)325-7571 > -- Filip Van Petegem, PhD Assistant Professor The University of British Columbia Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2350 Health Sciences Mall - Rm 2.356 Vancouver, V6T 1Z3 phone: +1 604 827 4267 email: filip.vanpete...@gmail.com http://crg.ubc.ca/VanPetegem/
