This project permits external (including French) labs to apply for access to the PSB platforms of Darren Hart (construct screening), Imre Berger (insect cell expression) and Josan Marquez (crystallisation). The EU will finance the costs of the visit including accommodation and consumables, but excluding travel. In addition, the labs in the PSB may be interested in accessing the platforms of Oxford, Heidelberg and Zurich under the same scheme.
For additional information on the p-Cube program, see Protein Production Platform Website
Since April this year and for the next four years, scientists working in European research institutions can have access to automated crystallization screening at the High Throughput Crystallization laboratory (HTX lab) of the EMBL Grenoble Outstation as part of the PCUBE project, a transnational access initiative within the European Framework Program 7 which provides free access to advanced infrastructures and core facilities.
The crystallisation facility at EMBL Grenoble Outstation, is one of the key platforms of the Partnership for Structural Biology (PSB) and is located next to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL). This facility offers completely automated crystallization screening in hanging and sitting drop set ups at two temperatures ( 20 deg and 5 deg ). The facility consists of a high-volume liquid handling station for the production of screens, a Cartesian nanovolume crystallization robot and three automated imaging systems, two operating at 20 deg and one at 5 deg. Results together with all experimental parameters are made available to users in real time through our CRystallization Information Management System (CRIMS), which includes fast and convenient web user interfaces providing advanced tools like Drop Scoring, Drop history, Navigation through project targets and samples and project summaries among others. CRIMS is synchronized with the ESRF automated sample changers and data collection software through ISPyB. Crystallization plates containing crystals are made available to users upon requests (typically during their next synchrotron visit) and facilities for crystal mounting and freezing are provided. In the six years of operation this facility has provided crystallization screening to more than 300 scientists.
To benefit form this program applications should be submitted using the web form . Applications will be evaluated by an independent Transnational Access Board and results communicated within 48 hrs. If the application is accepted, researches can send samples related to this project for crystallization to the HTX lab in Grenoble up to four times (a maximum of three samples each time). Beyond this re-application will be necessary. It is possible to apply for more than one project.
