SPU LIMS: Structural Proteomics Unit Laboratory Information Management System: tracking project workflows and providing knowledge about successful outcomes

The Bioinformatics Unit at the Life Sciences Core Facilities department (LSCF) developed a Laboratory Information Management System for the Structural Proteomics Unit (SPU LIMS) at the Weizmann Institute of Science. This in-house tailor-made software helps manage/maintain vast amounts of information, by efficiently tracking data associated with samples, experiments, instruments, and laboratory researchers/workflows.

The LIMS main page provides a hierarchical navigational control tree, starting from laboratory studies – defined by protein(s) name and the researcher(s) ordering the study- encompassing the associated projects and their experimental workflows. All workflow experimental results are documented in the relevant system pages, enabling users to track activities and easily depict and highlight successful experimental workflows.

The SPU LIMS application consists of three workflow components, which can occur consecutively:

· Protein Expression project pages manage their associated data, starting from the expression of genes in bacteria, yeast, insect, and human cells, and covering all of the steps leading to the production of large quantities of proteins.

· Protein Purification project pages manage the data associated with purifying stable and functional proteins, using a range of techniques, e.g. taking advantage of particular biochemical or biophysical protein features, or their affinity for other proteins or ligands.

· Crystallization project pages manage their associated data, starting from crystallization trials, interfacing to a designated robot system (CRIMS), and covering all of the steps leading to 3D structure determination and structure prediction of protein targets.

This sophisticated LIMS system has successfully enabled Structural Proteomics Unit personnel to significantly improve their productivity.