DNA or proteins are macromolecules that can be crystallised into highly ordered solids, which in turn are used in diffraction experiments to elucidate the atomic structure. However, the caveat is that crystallising macromolecules is not always that easy
The Macromolecular Crystallisation Facility of the University of Southampton based at the IfLS (Institute for Life Sciences), uses technology originally developed for high-throughput structural genomics programmes. This technology enables us to rapidly gain access to 3D structural information on macromolecules that are being investigated in research programmes. The facility provides crystallisation experiments, on-line access to the evaluation of these experiments and thus acts as a hub to integrate structural work into investigations of biological phenomena.