Structure and growth of ultrasmall protein microcrystals by synchrotron radiation: I. microGISAXS and microdiffraction of P450scc.
Ultrasmall P450scc cytochrome microcrystals are grown by classical hanging vapor diffusion and by its modification using homologous protein thin-film template displaying a long-range order. The nucleation and growth mechanisms of P450scc microcrystals are studied at the thin cytochrome film surface by a new microbeam grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering (microGISAXS) technique developed at the microfocus beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. P450scc cytochrome crystals of about 5 microm are also investigated by synchrotron radiation diffraction in order to attempt a preliminary analysis of the atomic structure of this unique protein system yet unsolved.
Nicolini
Claudio
C
Fondazione EL.B.A., via delle Testuggini snc, 00187 Rome, Italy. manuscript@ibf.unige.it
Pechkova
Eugenia
E
D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D017356:Synchrotrons
D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme