Minstrel™ HT UV: High-throughput crystal imaging and detection for protein crystallography

With the introduction of the Minstrel HT UV, Rigaku offers the world's first fully automated high-throughput ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) crystal imaging and protein crystal monitoring system. Engineered and optimized for use in protein crystallization experiments, this new robotic instrument is a major advance over previous visible light microscopy technology because its UV technology can find crystals in complex drops and easily distinguish protein crystals from non-protein crystals (such as salt). Rigaku's Minstrel HT UV employs our unique Clean Light Technology™, which provides UV illumination for positive crystal identification without photo damage.

How many crystals have you missed?

Find microcrystals in precipitated drops

The Rigaku Minstrel HT UV allows for the rapid and easy detection of protein crystals in heavily precipitated drops where traditional visible imaging systems fall short. This allows users to quickly ascertain the presence of crystals, increasing productivity and the reliability of experimental results. 

Employing Ultraviolet Fluorescence (UVF) microscopy, a crystallization well is illuminated with a wavelength optimized for the absorption of fluorescing amino acids such as tryptophan and tyrosine. The fluorescing light resulting from the protein is then digitally recorded by a specialized 5.1 megapixel CCD camera. While most proteins contain one of these amino acids, salt contains neither; therefore, protein crystals can easily be distinguished from non-protein crystals and other drop artifacts.

Superior Crystal Detection Without Damage

Clean Light Technology is the only commercially available programmable UV LED light source. This patent pending technology allows UV light to be focused onto the well of interest, and is "strobed" to further minimize UV exposure time. UV Clean Light Technology brings no additional heat to the well. Most importantly, minimizing UV exposure time means that crystal imaging has no effect on diffraction quality.

Experiments, using Clean Light Technology, have shown that crystals screened with our UV systems can be used for X-ray diffraction data collection, saving valuable time and expense. Average exposure times are 1-2 seconds per imaging session. Additional experiments indicate that Clean Light Technology exposure times as high as 50 hours have no effect on the diffraction quality of the crystals, and exposure times of 25 minutes or less have no effect on the electron density maps.

Do crystals get significantly damaged within this time frame?

Minstrel HT UV features:

• Extremely high OPTICAL resolution
  • Combined visible and UV spectrum imaging
  • 5.1 Megapixel CCD camera
  • Single optical train with superior optics and optical quality
• Allows users to detect crystals where visible imaging falls short
• Programmable LED lighting now with UV LED Clean Light Technology
  • In visible imaging mode the world's only programmable LED light source—called Minstrel Adaptable Imaging—may be controlled in various light patterns to give the best illumination possible to optimize lighting for each plate type and methodology. 
  • Provides Dark Field and Bright Field illumination for highest contrast and best imaging possible
• Monochromatic and color imaging in visible spectrum
• Polarization
• Multi-slice and combined image capability
• Compatible with hanging drop and sitting drop plates
• Most current Minstrel HT systems are upgradeable to the new Minstrel HT UV

The Minstrel HT UV is available as an independent workstation or it can be fully integrated into the CrystalMation™ protein crystallization platform. Discover how the Minstrel HT UV can transform the way crystallization experiments are done.