Millipol: Innovative software speeds protein crystal imaging

A new imaging technology for use in protein crystallography is poised to transform the process of identifying protein crystals. Werner Kaminsky, UW associate professor of chemistry, developed a software algorithm for fast image processing. UW TechTransfer licensed the technology to Emerald BioSystems, Inc., a Bainbridge Island company that provides tools to the protein crystallography marketplace.

Current identification methods rely mainly on the capabilities of the human eye and brain to identify crystals using conventional light microscopes, a slow and difficult process. Kaminsky’s software, in effect, adds dramatic color contrast to otherwise colorless protein crystals, making it easier to detect crystals both by human eyes and by computer technology. Another advantage is speed; the algorithms can process multiple digital images in less than one second, allowing the creation of movies of moving crystalline objects in real time.

Emerald BioSystems, originally founded as Emerald Biostructures by former UW researchers Lance Stewart and Hidong Kim, develops reagents, software database applications and automation instrumentation to speed up the process of X-ray crystallography. One line of technology development spearheaded by Emerald BioSystems’ director Peter Nollert deals with improved methods to better identify protein crystals in crystallization trials.

Across Puget Sound at the UW, Werner Kaminsky had already worked for two years on a similar problem. Fortuitously, Stewart and Nollert met with Kaminsky for technical discussions when Kaminsky announced he had already worked out a solution.

Nollert commented, “We are very pleased to be working with Dr. Kaminsky. His technology gives us a significant edge in imaging protein crystals. Millipol allows virtually instantaneous quantitative imaging of many biological as well as technical materials.” The company is considering sublicensing the technology in different fields of use, and is incorporating the software into a new microscope system.

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