Micro-Bridges are small devices in the shape of a bridge that are designed to carry out sitting drop vapor diffusion crystallization when placed in a VDX™ Plate or Linbro® Plate. A single Micro-Bridge fits neatly into the reservoir of a standard 24 well VDX Plate for a sitting drop crystallization experiment. Once placed inside the wells, Micro-Bridges are stable and there is no need to stick them to the wells with grease or adhesive. It is therefore possible to transfer them to other wells during or after a crystallization experiment.
Why sitting drop? Placing the droplet in the indentation greatly reduces the risk of losing the protein by accident. Crystallization can be carried out in the presence of detergents and organic solvents which are compatible with polystyrene (such as MPD, iso-propanol, and ethanol). The protein drop is less affected by condensation problems. Soaking and seeding experiments can be carried out easily. Crystals can be transported more securely. Larger drop volumes can be used. Micro-Bridges have a concave indentation in the top surface of the bridge which holds the sample droplet during a crystallization experiment and prevents the droplet from spreading over a large area. Made from polystyrene, these parts are highly transparent and suitable for most crystallizations. The surface of the indentation is highly polished to facilitate the visual inspection of the drops under a microscope. The maximum drop volume for the Micro-Bridge is 35 µl. Reservoirs can be sealed with plain cover slides and vacuum grease or clear sealing tape.
Approximate dimensions: Height: 12 mm Length: 14 mm Width: 7 mm
