º£½ÇÉçÇø

The facility maintains a stock of 21 commercial crystallisation screens pre-dispensed into 96-well MRC plates ready for automated dispensing with our liquid-handing robotics. In addition, custom screens can be designed and prepared for hit optimisation using the Dragonfly liquid handler.

Because many screens share overlapping chemical space, it is rarely necessary to screen all 21 during initial trials. For most soluble proteins, setting up an initial panel of 4-8 screens provides broad chemical diversity while keeping sample consumption to a minimum.

Soluble Proteins Screening Panel

• ICL7 – PACT premier (Molecular Dimensions): A systematic pH, anion, and cation screen covering pH 4.0–9.0 with standardised PEG concentrations. Ideal for dissecting electrostatic and ionic variables.

• ICL8 – JCSG+ (Molecular Dimensions): Designed by the Joint Center for Structural Genomics; screens a wide, unbiased chemical matrix of salts, polymers, and organics for high-throughput soluble protein trials.

• ICL0 – Structure Screens 1 and 2 (Molecular Dimensions): A classic, broad-matrix screen providing high historical hit rates across a wide variety of soluble proteins and complexes.

• ICL5 – SaltRx 1 and 2 (Hampton Research): Focuses exclusively on high-concentration salt precipitants (ammonium, formate, phosphate, and malonate salts) over varied pH; provides an ideal complement to PEG-dominated screens.

• ICL4 – Index (Hampton Research): A comprehensive sparse-matrix screen combining diverse salts, precipitant chemistries, and pH ranges. An essential starting point for initial crystallisation trials.

• ICL3N – PEG/Ion 1 and 2 (Hampton Research): Explores diverse single-salt anions and cations in combination with varying molecular weight PEGs. Excellent for proteins that crystallise in PEG-based conditions.

• ICL13 – Morpheus (Molecular Dimensions): Formulated with diverse salt mixes, carboxylic acids, and polyols acting as intrinsic cryoprotectants. Crystals grown in Morpheus can frequently be flash-cooled directly without additional cryo-reagents.

• ICL14 – PGA screen (Molecular Dimensions): Uses non-detergent poly-γ-glutamic acids (PGAs) as versatile polymeric precipitants; particularly effective for flexible proteins, protein–protein complexes, and macromolecular assemblies.

Membrane Protein Screening Panel

Formulated based on crystallisation conditions of known, unique alpha-helical membrane protein structures; covers diverse PEGs, salts, and buffers.

• ICL9 – MemGold (Molecular Dimensions): Formulated based on crystallisation conditions of known, unique alpha-helical membrane protein structures; covers diverse PEGs, salts, and buffers.

• ICL18 – MemGold 2 (Molecular Dimensions): Expands on MemGold by targeting beta-barrel architectures, complex assemblies, and transporters with next-generation precipitant formulations.

• ICL19 – MemMeso (Molecular Dimensions): Specifically designed for in meso crystallisation in lipidic cubic phase (LCP) matrices; formulated to promote nucleation while preserving lipid phase stability.

• ICL20 – MemTrans (Molecular Dimensions): Optimised for transmembrane transport proteins, incorporating conditions that accommodate the conformational dynamics of active transporters.

• ICL21 – MemChannel (Molecular Dimensions): Formulated specifically for ion channels and pore-forming membrane proteins, accommodating delicate lipid–detergent interactions.

• Detergent Screen (Hampton Research): A diagnostic kit containing non-ionic, zwitterionic, and ionic detergents to identify additive surfactants that stabilise the protein–detergent complex (PDC) and promote lattice contacts.

If you require a specific commercial screen not listed above, please contact the facility manager, Dr Sofia Caria, to arrange custom procurement or robotic dispensing into facility plates.

Commercial Crystallisation Screens

A list of all screen compositions can be found in the binder next to the Mosquito. 

Plates Ordering & Charging 

The facility operates on a cost-recovery basis for ImperiaCollege members.  We also welcome external researchers. Please contact Dr Sofia Caria (s.caria@imperial.ac.uk) for external charging rates and booking arrangements.