SPITROBOT-2 advances time-resolved cryo-trapping crystallography to under 25 ms

Abstract

We previously introduced the SPITROBOT, a protein crystal plunging system that enables reaction quenching via cryo-trapping with a time resolution in the millisecond range. Here we present the next generation, SPITROBOT-2, as an integrated benchtop device, condensed to approximately an A4 footprint. The user experience has been enhanced by the integration of a guiding beam and a sample-switch dial, to optimise sample exchange operations. This is complemented by a light-indicated liquid nitrogen level sensor, ensuring enhanced reliability. Moreover, a fully automated shutter shields the liquid nitrogen from the humidified environment, improving sample integrity. These improvements reduce the net sample preparation time to approximately three minutes per sample. Most importantly, the cryo-trapping delay time has been reduced to 23 milliseconds, making SPITROBOT-2 twice as fast as the previous generation. This further expands the number of target systems that can be addressed by cryo-trapping time-resolved crystallography. We demonstrate successful cryo-trapping via ligand binding and conformational changes using 12 crystal structures of three independent model systems: xylose isomerase, human insulin and bacteriophage T4 lysozyme. Taken together, these improvements increase the convenient access to cryo-trapping, time-resolved X-ray crystallography empowering the MX community with efficient tools to advance research in structural biology.