PICKScreens, A New Database for the Comparison of Crystallization Screens for Biological Macromolecules

Extensive screening during crystallization trials is necessary, especially for challenging but interesting targets, that is, large multisubunit complexes or membrane proteins. Producing high amounts of such macromolecules is difficult, so it is important to perform screening efficiently. However, commercial screens are redundant, leading to unnecessary or unwanted sample consumption, and cannot be visually compared, because the manufacturers' formulations are not formatted uniformly. PICKScreens, a database reporting Profile of Identities among Crystallization Kit Screens, will help crystallographers "pick" screens in a more rational manner, minimizing sample consumption and hopefully enhancing their success rate. It is available at https://registration.cc.biophys.mpg.de/fam-core/.