Perform faster 3D structure analysis with SC-XRD chaperone compounds, and crystallise previously intractable organic molecules. This technique is already established in protein crystallisation and can now also be used in small-molecule crystallography with new Chaperone Crystallisation Kits from Bruker.
Structure Determination with SC-XRD
Reliable determination of absolute configuration is a key capability of SC-XRD, making it an extremely useful technique in pharmaceutical research. A significant anomalous signal can be obtained from non-racemic samples to determine the absolute structure. However, its success relies on generating crystals of the correct size, diffraction power and thermal/mechanical properties. Results can be compromised by major disorders, pseudo-symmetry, twinning and modulation.
Co-crystallisation is a proven method for growing high-quality crystals. However, finding a chaperoning partner molecule can be challenging. The number of analytes that can be crystallised with each particular partner molecule is often very limited.
Chaperone Assisted Crystallisation
Chaperone-assisted crystallisation is an established method in protein crystallisation for accelerating 3D structure determination. Chaperone proteins stabilise other macromolecular structures via covalent or non-covalent chemical bonds.
Prof. C. Richert’s group at the Institute of Organic Chemistry in Stuttgart recently applied the concept to small-molecule crystallography. A series of molecules was developed that form co-crystals with many organic molecules and chaperone high-quality crystal formation.
Analyse Molecules not Previously Possible
This enables complete 3D structure analysis in a very short time, using single-crystal diffractometers like the Bruker D8 QUEST and D8 VENTURE. It’s possible to analyse small and highly flexible organic molecules that were previously intractable.
The new approach could also lead to unambiguous determination of absolute structures from liquid samples – not previously possible with even the most sophisticated crystallisation methods.
Chaperone Crystallisation Kits
Chaperone Crystallisation Kits are now available from Bruker for X-ray crystallography. They increase the chances of successful crystallisation and enable faster 3D structural analysis of organics. Contact us for details and quotes.
- Fast and easy to use.
- Structures in hours rather than weeks.
- Only small quantities of analyte are required.
- High crystal quality.
- Sample screen of 52 organic compounds.
- Diffraction-quality crystals in 88% of cases.
- High-resolution X-ray structures in 77% of cases.
- Highly stable.
The new kits are designed for use with the Bruker D8 QUEST and D8 VENTURE SC-XRD systems.
Workflow
The chaperone kits are easy to use, for fast time-to-results:
- Add a few mg of chaperone to the analyte.
- Warm gently on a heating plate until a clear solution forms.
- Let the mixture cool down while crystallisation occurs.
Further information is available in a Bruker PDF application note.
More Information
Blue Scientific is the official distributor of Bruker X-Ray Analysis systems in the Nordic region. We’re available to provide quotes, arrange demonstrations and answer all your questions – just get in touch:
Contact us on +44 (0)1223 422 269 or info@blue-scientific.com