A semiautomatic protein crystallization system with preventing evaporation of drops and surface sensor of solution

We developed a simple, semiautomated protein crystallization system. The system performs crystallization-condition-screening experiments using commercial solution kits and crystallization plates. It is capable of dispensing a minimum of one microliter of protein solution into a protein well and a maximum of one milliliter of a mother liquor into a reservoir with high reproducibility using two syringes of different sizes. Several new instruments effective in preventing evaporation of solutions, a surface sensor of solutions, and a tube-holder box for solution kits are introduced.