Method for monitoring the production of biomolecule crystals

1. A method for monitoring the production of macromolecule crystals containing at least one fluorescence emitter, comprising the following steps:

a) a solution volume with dissolved macromolecules of a molecule species containing at least one fluorescence emitter is subjected to conditions which cause the macromolecules to crystallize to macromolecule crystals or which are expected to cause the macromolecules to crystallize to macromolecule crystals,

b) the solution volume of step a) is irradiated with coherent light, and the light scattered by the macromolecule crystals is detected in at least one defined spatial angle range by means for the detection of scattered light,

c) before, simultaneously with or after step b), the solution volume is irradiated with a light source, the light emission of which is suitable for exciting the fluorescence emitter, and the fluorescence light is detected by means for the detection of fluorescence light.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the macromolecule species is a biomolecule species.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the following steps are added:

d) the signals produced by the means for the detection of scattered light are fed to an evaluation unit, in which the signals are transformed into a particle size or a measurement value correlated herewith, the particle size or the measurement value being compared to a defined required particle size or required measurement value,

e) the signals produced by the means for the detection of fluorescence light are fed to an evaluation unit, in which the signals are transformed into a fluorescence intensity, and the fluorescence intensity is compared to a required fluorescence intensity,

f) macromolecule crystals are selected, if the particle size is larger than the required particle size and simultaneously the fluorescence intensity is larger than the required fluorescence intensity.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein a multitude of solution volumes comprising identical or different macromolecule species are subjected simultaneously or subsequently to the steps a) to c) or a) to f), and the crystallization conditions of step a) can be identical or different in the various solution volumes.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the multitude of solution volumes are arranged on or in a carrier element.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the number of solution volumes is in the range 5 to 1,000.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the steps b) and c) are performed one after the other, b) after c) or c) after b).

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the light source used in step c) is a UV light source.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the means for the detection of scattered light or the means for the detection of fluorescence light comprise a light conductor connected thereto with one of its ends, and the opposite end thereof is directed onto the solution volume.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the means for the detection of the scattered light or of the fluorescence light comprise a photomultiplier.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a UV filter is interposed between the solution volume and the means for the detection of fluorescence light.

12. A device for monitoring, preferably high-throughput monitoring, the production of macromolecule crystals, comprising:

a carrier element disposed on a base element, and onto or into said carrier element a solution volume containing dissolved macromolecules of a macromolecule species can be applied,

at least one light source for coherent light to be directed onto the solution volume,

a light source for light, which is suitable for the excitation of a fluorescence emitter, to be directed onto the solution volume,

means for the detection of scattered light from the solution volume,

means for the detection of fluorescence light from the solution volume, and

an evaluation unit connected to the means for the detection of scattered light and the means for the detection of fluorescence light.

13. A device according to claim 12 , wherein the carrier element comprises a multitude of sample areas for receiving one solution volume each.

14. A device according to claim 12 , wherein the means for the detection of scattered light or the means for the detection of fluorescence light either comprise a common light conductor or a respectively assigned light conductor, the free end of which is directed onto the solution volume.

15. A device according to claim 14 , wherein the free end of the light conductor is arranged for receiving light, which is emitted from the solution volume in an angle of 0° to 70° with respect to the axis of the irradiated light.

16. A device according to claim 12 , wherein either the carrier element or the means for the detection of scattered light and the means for the detection of fluorescence light are displaceable relative to the base element by means of a manipulator device.

17. A method according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the number of solution volumes is in the range of 50 to 500.

18. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the steps b) and c) are performed one after the other, b) after c) or c) after b).

19. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the means for the detection of scattered light or the means for the detection of fluorescence light comprise a light conductor connected thereto with one of its ends, and the opposite end thereof is directed onto the solution volume.

20. A method according to claim 3 , wherein a UV filter is interposed between the solution volume and the means for the detection of fluorescence light.