Video Monitoring And Analysis Subsystem: A CCD-Based Monitoring System For The Protein Crystal Growth Apparatus

Of significant importance to the field of protein crystallography is the preparation of single crystals suitable for x-ray diffraction studies. Recent experiments have been conducted on the Space Shuttle to study in detail the effects of microgravity on protein crystallization. The device used on these Shuttle missions, the Protein Crystal Growth Apparatus (PCGA), utilizes the vapor diffusion crystallization method and has yielded extremely favorable results. We describe here our efforts to modify the PCGA in order to incorporate an automated CCD-based video system, the Video Monitoring and Analysis Subsystem (VMAS) for direct monitoring of crystallization experiments. The video system discussed allows frequent monitoring and observation of crystal growth. In addition, images of crystallization experiments obtained with the VMAS will be processed and analyzed on-board with a dedicated microcomputer to automatically determine the presence and rate of crystal growth.