Anyone have any experience working with DNA crystals under ambient conditions?

How large is the DNA you are trying to crystallize? Give me more details on what you are trying to do, and I'll try to help.

The DNA is ssDNA/10-mers that form either B-DNA or a Holliday Junction.

I'm trying to image the crystals by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and obtain lattice resolution. The junction crystals have the flattest surface for imaging with AFM, but they crack and melt when trying to image.

I've tried various artifical mother liquors, some work, but usually the crystals eventually degrade. There is not enough original mother liquor for imaging.

Have you been maintaining vapor pressure/humidity of the crystal? Otherwise the crystal will dehydrate and degrade quickly.

As best as I can. They seem to be relatively stable in the room in which they are grown. One of the biggest problems is that the the AFM is in another building, in the basement, where the temperature of the room is erratic.

I guess that makes it sound pretty impossible, doesn't it?

I am not familiar with AFM with DNA crystals. Can you layer the crystals with an oil to seal it from air?