dragonfly® crystal

dragonfly® crystal enhances protein crystal screen optimization. dragonfly is the ideal system to complement TTP Labtech’s mosquito® in the protein crystallization workflow. Once the initial crystal ‘hits’ are identified, dragonfly produces a set of optimized conditions to grow better diffracting crystals.

dragonfly crystal combines non-contact, positive displacement pipetting with disposable tips (ensuring zero cross-contamination) to automate the screen optimization process. Each pipette can dispense any volume (within range of 0.5 µL – 4 mL) of any liquid into any well of the plate, allowing complex assay gradients or optimised crystal screens to be prepared in under 5 minutes.

Benefits of dragonfly crystal include:

• no liquid classification – making set-up quick and easy
• flexible automation – dispense any volume from 0.5 µL upwards, into any well, from any syringe. Independent control of each channel
• accuracy and precision – accurate and precise dispensing of all types of liquids regardless of viscosity
• negligible evaporation of the dispensed reagents due to minimal set-up time
• fast – rapid completion of plate irrespective of viscosity variation in stocks (5-8 mins)
• pour and go – simply decant the stock volumes you need directly into the reservoirs from any bottle or tube – minimum preparation time
• stock integrity – positive displacement technology preserves stock integrity, even for volatiles
• optimal sample use – low dead volumes < 0.5 mL that are recoverable if required, combined with extremely accurate dispensing mean that precious samples go further and allowing more extensive screening
• zero cross contamination – use of disposable mosquito tips and non-contact dispensing guarantees zero cross-contamination
• ease of use – software is extremely simple to use, design and dispense
• robust – focused and uncomplicated workflow avoids physical user errors, low maintenance (no chance of blocking or clogging)
• screen designer software – interactive, powerful and simple tool to make set-up easier – design remotely at your desk and dispense at the machine.

These features allow the easy creation of even complex gradient plates.

Key application areas include:

• screen optimization set-ups for protein crystallography
• pH gradients for fine slicing
• biological assay development