A lipid's eye view of membrane protein crystallization in mesophases.
Lipidic mesophases have been used to produce diffraction-quality crystals of several membrane proteins. The mechanism by which the method works is a mystery. The thrust is to continue to use it whilst deciphering the underlying mechanism and solving the second 'phase problem' in membrane protein crystallography. The method, which probably shares similarities with crystal growth in microgravity, is examined here from a lipid and a phase science perspective.
Caffrey
M
M
Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA. caffrey@chemistry.ohio-state.edu
D000818:Animals; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation
D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins