MRC Maxi 48-Well Crystallization Plate | Large Volume Optimization

Facts about the MRC Maxi 48

• MRC Maxi – ANSI/SLAS 1-2004 Standard
• 48 wells
• Available in 3 polymers

Key Features

• Optically perfect wells
• Micro-numbering
• Designed for high volume optimization experiments

The MRC Maxi Optimization Plate is a next-generation 48-well sitting drop platform specifically engineered for large-volume macromolecular crystallization. Developed at the prestigious MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, UK) in collaboration with Jan Löwe and Fabrice Gorrec, this plate builds on decades of high-throughput expertise to bridge the gap between initial screening hits and diffraction-ready crystals. Compatible with both automated liquid handlers and manual pipetting, it is the ultimate tool for scaling up your crystallization trials.

Key Benefits

• High-Volume Scale-Up: Accommodates large sitting drops up to 10 µL, providing the optimal volume and environment required to grow large, well-ordered crystals.

• Synchrotron-Ready Harvesting: Specialized sitting-drop geometry ensures crystals grow dead-center in the lens and away from the well walls, making harvesting effortless.

• Flawless Automation Integration: Fully compliant with ANSI/SLAS 1-2004 standards, integrating smoothly with standard robotic systems and plate imagers.

• Downstream Synergy: Ideal for concentrated protein samples sourced from our ultrafiltration systems, ensuring your meticulous purification efforts translate directly into high-quality crystallization data.

Technical Specifications

Deep Dive Features

 Advanced Optical Engineering & Micro-Tracking

• Micro-Numbering: Integrated, microscopic well-numbering is clearly visible under a microscope, ensuring rapid, error-free sample tracking across all 48 wells.

• Conical Lens Profile: Wide, conically-shaped wells act as an optical lens, maximizing light transmission and eliminating dark edges for perfect illumination during manual or automated viewing.

 Next-Generation Polymer Selection

The MRC Maxi plate is available in three performance-grade polymers to match your specific imaging and chemical compatibility needs:

• PS: The reliable, cost-effective industry standard for routine visible light microscopy.

• UVP: Enhanced UV-transmissible polymer optimized for distinguishing protein crystals from salt via UV fluorescence.

• UVXPO: Our premium, optically superior polymer. It features exceptional UV-transmissibility and delivers Uniform (Zero) Background interference when viewed under cross-polarized light.

 Effortless Crystal Harvesting

• Raised, Wide Wells: No deep, narrow pockets to navigate. Elevated, wide-entry wells offer maximum physical clearance for loops and micromanipulators, drastically reducing the risk of scraping well walls or damaging fragile crystals.

 Vapor-Lock Sealing & Zero Evaporation

• Ultra-Flat, Rigid Frame: A highly robust structural architecture completely eliminates central bending or bowing, keeping the entire plate on a perfectly uniform plane.

• Wide Partition Walls: Generous flat surface areas between the 48 wells provide massive adhesion space for sealing tapes, completely eliminating sample evaporation during long-term storage trials.