Automated Protein Purification
Emerald BioSystems' Protein Maker™ is a protein purification engine for high-throughput proteomics labs. It solves the protein purification bottleneck by allowing researchers to design and run standard medium pressure chromatography experiments for up to 24 individual column chemistries each with its own buffer system (equilibration buffer A, elution buffer B, strip buffer and water). The Protein Maker™ is a patented combination of 24 precision syringe pumps each with 9-position valve heads, innovative plumbing, and a high-resolution gantry that can accurately deliver column fractions to any standard block plate.
The principle components of the Protein Maker include a pump rack, a gantry and the software that controls their motions. The pump rack has 24 individually controlled syringe pumps (1 to 50 ml capacity), each connected to an 8-way valve. The valves are connected to reservoirs for column buffers, water, waste and a mixing syringe chamber for on-the-fly step gradient creation. Flow rates can be adjusted from 0.25 to 20 ml/minute when using 5 ml syringes. The gantry has X-, Y-, and Z- directional control and carries two 24-port manifolds: one for sample loading on a separate Z-axis controller, and one for holding mounted columns.
Up to 24 standard pre-packed columns of 1 to 10 ml size can be mounted on the gantry. The deck has twenty SBS-format stations for protein loading, column fractions and tip washing. The sample-loading manifold can also be used to load specialized wash or elution buffers from the deck. A point-and-click interface allows the user to select a set of columns and various parameters for the automated procedures, as well as to execute a wide range of manual aspirate/dispense operations. From start to finish, the Protein Maker™ can run 24 different 1 ml columns in about one hour. This includes individually adjustable step gradients (starting with 24 - 10 ml protein input samples) and the collection of multiple individual fractions.
The Protein Maker™ can be flexibly configured with 24 of the same columns or 24 different chromatography chemistries. In the typical scouting configuration, four different protein samples are chromatographed over six different column chemistries: Metal Chelate Affinity, Cation Exchange, Anion Exchange, Cibachron Blue, Phenyl Sepharose and Heparin. The Protein Maker™ can be upgraded to include 12 or 24 additional multi-channel Micro-shot nozzles for a very small volume re-arraying of protein fraction samples for further analysis (i.e. SDS-Page, protein quantification, etc.)
Hardware Features
- 24 precision syringe pumps with 8-position valve heads
- Precision motion X-, Y-, Z- gantry for random access sample pick-up and delivery
- 24 glass syringes with Teflon® plungers, 1 to 50 ml volume
- Sample inlet manifold with outlet nozzles spaced 18 mm and configured in 1 4 x 6 array
- 24 PEEK tubing lines for protein loading from the deck
- 24 PEEK tubing outlet lines to chromatography columns
- Color-coded tubing and nut assemblies (waste, water, buffers)
- One 5L water tank with 24-grommet cap
- 20 aluminum deck station racks to accommodate SBS standard plate or tube racks
- Barcode tracking
- 12 clear glass buffer bottles with 4-grommet caps, 1 L volume, with rack
- 12 clear glass buffer bottles with 4-grommet caps, 500 ml volume, with rack
- Wash station with 96 chimney-type washers for outlet needles
- Sterile liquid path from buffer solution bottle to outlet needle
- Handles stock solutions with high and low viscosity, organic solvents, wide ph ranges and various surface tensions
- Dispense volume accuracy is <2% error for volumes as low as 20 microliters for both viscous and non-viscous solutions
- Speedy syringe and plumbing was cycles (80 ml/minute with 5 ml syringes)
Software Features
- Fully networkable Protein Maker™ database hardware control software
- Easy setup of automated run parameters for parallel column chromatography
- Run log and sample information database
- Elution parameter selection interface
- Point-and-click column selection
- Full manu control
- Fully automated chromatography protocols
- Plasticware definitions
- Syringe configurations
- Compatible with Windows® operating systems, Microsoft® SQL Server 2000 and Oracle® 9i
Electrical and Safety Features
- CE Certified
- 110/220 VAC, 60/50 Hz, 880 VA max. output
- Plexiglass front sash window with safety interlock and status lighting
- Emergency Stop Button
Physical Parameters
- Weight 475 lb. (215 kg)
- Unit height 49" (125 cm), depth 31" (79 cm), length 44" (112 cm)
- Gantry travel: Height 4.5" (11.5 cm), depth 15" (38 cm), length 28" (71 cm)
Upgrade Features Available
- Syringe size can be modified (0.5 ml to 5 ml syringe barrel)
- Custom plasticware holders
- 9-position switch-valves for additional buffer input lines
- Micro-shot dispense nozzle module (12 or 25 independent nozzles)
- Water cooled deck system
- 24 x 250 ml reservoir bottles, lines and racks for larger protein load volumes
- Automation systems design and integrations services