How to book
Booking diaries for all instruments in the X-ray Crystallography Facility are hosted on the PPMS online platform. Only registered users of the Centre for Structural Biology (CSB) can access instrument calendars and place bookings. External users should contact the facility manager, Dr Sofia Caria, for account setup, access conditions, and pricing.
Mandatory Equipment Booking Policy
To monitor equipment usage and manage maintenance effectively, all facility equipment must now be booked in advance via PPMS prior to use. This includes:
Biophysical instrumentation:
- Size-Exclusion Chromatography–Multi-Angle Light Scattering (SEC-MALS)
- Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC)
- Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy
Liquid-handling robotics:
- Mosquito LCP crystallisation robot
- Dragonfly liquid handler
Imaging systems:
- Confocal microscopes
- UV microscope
Walk-in sessions and unbooked use are strictly prohibited.
Ordering Crystallisation Plates
If you require facility pre-prepared or stock crystallisation plates, please submit your order at least 24 hours in advance. This ensures adequate preparation time and allows plates to equilibrate in the 4 °C incubator ready for collection.
The current plate options are as follows:
- Pre-filled 96-well MRC commercial screens plates.
- Customised 96-well MRC plates.
- 24-well pre-greased crystallisation plates.
- 24-well standard crystallisation plates.
Please note: Plates prices cover the associated operational usage of the Mosquito, Dragonfly, and Tecan instruments, alongside routine consumables (plates, Mosquito tips, Dragonfly syringes, and reservoirs). The CSB supplies all plates on an at-cost basis. Current pricing can be viewed directly on PPMS.
For step-by-step dispensing protocols and instrument guidelines, please consult the dedicated operation of the crystallisation robot.