The structural biology platform has established a complete and efficient technical chain of protein expression and preparation, protein characterization and structural biology research, providing low-cost, high-throughput and precise services for protein structural and functional research, which fully plays an important supporting role in basic biological research. The platform processes complete equipment and advanced technologies providing the following equipment supporting and technological services, which can be divided into the following modules.

1. Protein Expression Screening Module.

This module focuses on high-throughput and rapid expression screening, growth-condition optimization using varieties of expression systems such as E.coli, Pichia pastoris, etc. and vectors with various kinds of fusion tags. The platform equipped with high-throughput well plate shakers, multi-channel (6/24/96 channels) ultrasonic crushers and other equipment is capable of establishing a high-throughput expression screening and optimization system quickly. To obtain suitable plasmids for expressing target proteins, it needs just 4-6 weeks, and 2-3 weeks is needed to improve the expression level. For large-scale expression, a batch of 10 L culture liquid with target proteins can be delivered in about 2-3 weeks.

2. Protein Preparation module.

This module can achieve large-scale and high-throughput protein expression and preparation supporting by exhaustive equipment and chromatography media. Protein preparation module is equipped with high-throughput automated protein purification systems and preparation ultracentrifuges, etc., which can achieve protein separation and preparation rapidly. 200 batches of purification can be accomplished in one day, providing services for milligram to gram-level preparation of soluble proteins, inclusion proteins, membrane proteins and anaerobic proteins. The preparation capacity reaches to 300-600 samples per year, which can meet the needs from laboratory to industrial application. Delivery standard: For large-scale preparation, 1 mg-1 g of protein samples with purity>90% can be delivered in 1-6 weeks. For high-throughput preparation of milligram-level, 48 protein samples of 30 ug-100 ug with purity>90% can be delivered in 1-3 weeks.

3. Protein Characterization Module.

This module conducts a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical properties of proteins, including protein quantification, enzyme kinetics determination, stability analysis, etc. Equipped with multifunctional microplate reader, stability analyzer, protein expression identification system and etc., achieving an analytical throughput of 5000-10000 samples per year, which can accomplish the characterization of protein structure and function rapidly and efficiently to improve the research efficiency.

4. Structural Biology Sample Preparation Module.

  This module is dedicated to the cultivation of high-quality protein crystals and the preparation of cryo-EM samples, providing crystallization feasibility assessments. Protein crystals of target samples that meet data collection standards can be obtained within 1-8 weeks with a throughput of 10,000 samples per year. By using crystal screening optimization robots and automated crystal observation system to achieve high-throughput crystal screening and observation, samples that meet the requirements of structural analysis can be efficiently obtained, with an observation throughput of 20,000 samples per year.

5. Protein Structure Analysis Module

The structural biology platform analyzes the three-dimensional structure of proteins to reveal their functional mechanisms using X-ray diffraction, cryo-electron microscopy and other technologies, which can accomplish the diffraction data collection of 300 sets per year. This module is equipped with high-performance workstations for data processing, which can quickly collect and analyze the diffraction data of protein crystals, helping researchers to get a deeper understanding of the interactions between biological macromolecules. Rapid analysis of protein structures can be achieved within a week, and structures of small molecules can be analyzed in just a few hours.