I’ve just remembered another approach that I’ve heard suggested, although I don’t know anyone who has tried it.
Dissolve plenty of the small molecule in paraffin or silicone oil, and use this mixture to cover the drop. This can be used with regular vapor diffusion or (probably better) microbatch-under-oil. The oil acts as a reservoir that contains excess small molecule that (you hope) will be fed into the crystals.
Patrick Shaw Stewart
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From:
CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Green, Todd
Sent: 22 January 2007 20:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: crystal friendly solvents
that are useful for dissolving hydrophobic small molecules?
Hello
All,
I am trying to soak some crystals with a small molecule that is quite
hydrophobic. I am having trouble with solubilty of the small molecule. It will
dissolve up to about 1 mM in 100 % DMSO, but precipitates at concentrations of
less than 15 micromolar when the DMSO concentration is below 20 percent in my
crystal growth solutions(which are peg 4k, low pH, low salt). Can anyone
suggest solvents other than DMSO which might help dissolve the inhibitor and
might be somewhat friendly to my crystals.
Thanks in advance-
Todd Green