Re: [ccp4bb] Mounting needle-shaped crystals

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CCP4bb <-- 1999 <-- November 1999 <-- 30 November 1999

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From: Phil Evans pre {- at -} MRC-LMB {- dot -} CAM {- dot -} AC {- dot -} UK
Date: 2009-10-06

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Subject: Re: Mounting needle-shaped crystals
From: Jürgen_Bosch jubosch {- at -} JHSPH {- dot -} EDU
Date: 2009-10-06

Hi Jack,

you could try the following strategy:
a) use a larger loop than your needle, then before freezing carefully
dip the loop onto the glass slide to reduce the amount of liquid
b) if your crystal is larger than your largest loop cut it
c) see attached figure. The way I mount those type of crystals is not
to break through the surface but instead to retract the loop and lift
the crystal out of the drop. The tip of the crystal comes out as last.
Typically the part of the crystal in the loop has a higher mosaicity
due to this treatment as you slightly need to bend the crystal when
fishing it out of the drop.

d) The Mitegen loops are very useful

Good luck,

Jürgen

On Oct 5, 2009, at 6:52 PM, Tanner, John J. wrote:

> Dear CCP4,
>
> I'm looking for advice on mounting thin needles for low temperature
> data
> collection. Our needles are fairly long (100-200 microns) but only 20
> microns or less thick. When I pick them up with Hampton loops
> (0.05-0.1 mm
> size), the crystals tend to break as they are moved out of the drop
> and
> through the liquid-air interface.
>
> I see that Mitegen sells MicroLoops E, which are advertised as
> working well
> for mounting needles. Can anyone recommend them? Can anyone
> recommend
> Mitegen MicroMeshes or another tool for mounting needles?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jack Tanner
>
>
> --
> John J. Tanner
> Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
> University of Missouri-Columbia
> 125 Chemistry Building
> Columbia, MO 65211
> Phone: 573-884-1280
> Fax: 573-882-2754
> Email: tannerjj@missouri.edu
> http://www.chem.missouri.edu/TannerGroup/tanner.html
>

-
Jürgen Bosch
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute
615 North Wolfe Street, W8708
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: +1-410-614-4742
Lab: +1-410-614-4894
Fax: +1-410-955-3655
http://web.mac.com/bosch_lab/

CCP4bb navigation

CCP4bb <-- 1999 <-- November 1999 <-- 30 November 1999

Previous message:
Subject: Re: pointless, hi and low resolution
From: Phil Evans pre {- at -} MRC-LMB {- dot -} CAM {- dot -} AC {- dot -} UK
Date: 2009-10-06

Next message:
Subject: Looking for a good review of successful SBDD.
From: Scott Pegan scott {- dot -} d {- dot -} pegan {- at -} GMAIL {- dot -} COM
Date: 2009-10-06