HIT OPTIMIZATION

Strategies to optimize initial crystallization hits:

Chemical Environment

Kits and screens to optimize the chemical composition of your crystallization reagents, i.e. buffer pH, precipitant and additive compostion.

Input Protein

Get your protein ready for crystallization! Consider to optimize the solubilization buffer, alter the protein surface or modify the sequence by truncation or mutagenesis. Or try a new mode of production.

Thermodynamics / Kinetics

Do not discard bad diffracting crystals! They can be very useful, too. Try to improve diffraction by varying the solvent content or use your initial crystals for seeding.