Growth of Protein 2-D Crystals on Supported Planar Lipid Bilayers Imaged in Situ by AFM.
Theories of crystallization, both in 3-D and 2-D, are still very limited, mainly due to the scarcity of experimental approaches providing pertinent data on elementary phenomena. We present here a novel experimental approach for following, in real time and in situ, the process of 2-D crystallization of proteins on solid supports. Using annexin V as a model of a protein binding by affinity to a lipid matrix, we show that 2-D crystals of proteins can be formed on supported planar lipid bilayers (SPBs). Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) enables the process of 2-D crystal growth to be visualized. The submolecular organization of the crystals was characterized at a resolution of approximately 2 nanometers, and defects, hitherto not observed in protein crystals, were resolved. These results have potential applications in basic and applied sciences. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
GBB, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands
I
Reviakine
W
Bergsma-Schutter
A
Brisson