	US 7,531,037 B2
	Device and method for forming macromolecule crystal
Izumi Yoshizaki, Tsukuba (Japan); Satoshi Sano, Tsukuba (Japan); Tomoyuki Kobayashi, Tsukuba (Japan); Masaru Sato, Tsukuba (Japan); Moritoshi Motohara, Tsukuba (Japan); Hiroaki Tanaka, Shinjuku-ku (Japan); Sachiko Takahashi, Shinjuku-ku (Japan); Shinichi Shinozaki, Shinjuku-ku (Japan); Mari Yamanaka, Shinjuku-ku (Japan); and Koji Inaka, Yamatokoriyama (Japan)
Assigned to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Nov. 28, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/287,219.
Application 11/287219 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2004/007682, filed on May 27, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-149585 (JP), filed on May 27, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2006/0081173 A1, Apr. 20, 2006
Int. Cl. C30B 29/58 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 117—68 [117/69; 117/923]

13 Claims

1. A method for forming a macromolecule crystal, comprising the steps of:

providing a first container which has at least one opening and contains a sample of macromolecule;

providing a second container which has at least two openings and contains a gel for buffering a crystallization solution condition, a crystallization initiation period and a crystal-growth rate of the macromolecule;

connecting said first and second containers through the opening of said first container and a first one of the openings of said second container to allow the macromolecule sample and the gel to be brought into contact with one another;

providing a third container which contains a precipitant solution to be brought into contact with the macromolecule sample via a liquid-liquid diffusion process so as to facilitate the crystallization of the macromolecule; and

allowing the gel in said second container to be brought into contact with the precipitant solution through a second one of the openings of said second container while maintaining the contact between the macromolecule sample in said first container and the gel in said second container.