“…Parameters screened generally include protein concentration, pH (generally a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0 is evaluated in steps of 0.3 pH units), buffer type, precipitating agent type and concentration, temperature, additive type and concentration. This approach, combined with technological developments such as high-throughput protein-expression/purification and automated crystallographic determination protocols, the use of protein engineering to enhance crystallization lattice contacts and robotic liquid-dispensing/crystallization systems, have accelerated the crystallization and structure determination of thousands of new proteins (Blundell & Mizuguchi, 2000;Burley et al, 1999;Mittl & Grü tter, 2001;Montelione & Anderson, 1999;Teichmann et al, 1999;Christendat et al, 2000;Waldo et al, 1999;Terwilliger, 2000;Abola et al, 2000;Hendrickson, 2000;Derewenda, 2004a,b;Rupp et al, 2002;Krupka et al, 2002;Stevens, 2000). However, in spite of the plethora of new protein structures that have resulted from these technological advances, it is clear that robotics alone is not sufficient for the successful crystallization of a significant number of important proteins.…”