Abstract: The present invention relates to pyruvate: ?-amino acid transaminases isolated from a Pseudomonas species. The transaminases act on long chain amino acids and are capable of accepting substrates comprising 8 to 12 carbon atoms. The enzymes are suitable as biocatalysts for the manufacture of nylon.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing device. The liquid dispensing device has a tray for holding a liquid at a relatively constant level. A syringe is used for drawing fluid from the tray. A liquid container containing a liquid is positioned upside-down in the tray such that the opening of the liquid container defines a vertical position that is slightly below the liquid level in the tray. Atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the tray and a vacuum inside the liquid container prevents liquid from draining from the container until the fluid level in the tray drops to a level approximately equal to the vertical position of the opening. The positioning of the syringe for drawing fluid is simplified by reason of the fact that the level of fluid in the tray is maintained at an approximately constant level despite withdrawal of quantities of fluid from the tray.

Abstract: A crystallization tray includes a plurality of crystallization cells, each cell having a reservoir adapted to receive an equilibrating solution, a shelf located adjacent to the reservoir and adapted for use as a temporary cryogenic holding area for a crystallized substance and/or a sample holding area, and a sample drop receptacle carried by the shelf and adapted to receive a sample drop including a crystallizable substance. A related method for forming macromolecular crystals includes dispensing an equilibrating solution in the reservoirs, dispensing a plurality of macromolecular solution droplets in the sample drop receptacles, covering the cells with a cover; and crystallizing the crystallizable substance by vapor diffusion.

Abstract: The present invention provides machine readable media embedded with the three-dimensional molecular structure coordinates of ArnB amino transferases, and subsets thereof, including binding pockets, methods of using the structure to identify and design affecters, including inhibitors and activator, mutants of ArnB, and compounds and compositions that affect ArnB activity.

Abstract: A crystallization tray includes a plurality of crystallization cells, each cell having a reservoir adapted to receive an equilibrating solution, a shelf located adjacent to the reservoir and adapted for use as a temporary cryogenic holding area for a crystallized substance and/or a sample holding area, and a sample drop receptacle carried by the shelf and adapted to receive a sample drop including a crystallizable substance. A related method for forming macromolecular crystals includes dispensing an equilibrating solution in the reservoirs, dispensing a plurality of macromolecular solution droplets in the sample drop receptacles, covering the cells with a cover; and crystallizing the crystallizable substance by vapor diffusion.

Abstract: A blocking device for remote, selective blocking of a cold stream used in a protein crystal annealing process during X-ray protein crystallography includes a blocking member adapted to be selectively moved between at least a blocking position where the blocking member blocks the cold stream and a non-blocking position where the blocking member does not block the cold stream, and an actuation mechanism adapted to impart movement to the blocking member to cause the blocking member to be selectively moved between at least the blocking position and the non-blocking position.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a crystal growing incubator having opposing first and second sides. The apparatus also includes an X-ray system which comprises an X-ray source disposed adjacent to the first side of the crystal growing incubator and an X-ray detector disposed adjacent to the second side of the crystal growing incubator. The X-ray source is configured to irradiate crystalline material grown in the crystal growing incubator and the X-ray detector is configured to detect the presence of diffracted X-rays from crystals grown in the crystal growing incubator. The apparatus preferably further comprises a positioner that positions the incubator and the X-ray system relative to each other. Also provided is a method of screening for crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment using the above described apparatus.