From surface self-assembly to crystallization: prediction of protein crystallization conditions.
A new criterion based on surface and volume diffusion kinetics was established to predict protein crystallization. Similar to the layer-by-layer crystal growth process of protein, the kinetics of the two-dimensional self-assembly of protein at the aqueous solution surface provides a convenient and reliable way to estimate the surface integration and the volume transport during protein crystallization. Both the surface and diffusion kinetics were estimated based on the protein self-assembly at the air/solution interface, which can be obtained by measuring the surface tension. A crystallization coefficient is found to provide an effective and reliable criterion to predict protein crystallization conditions. This criterion has been applied to lysozyme, concanavalin A and BSA crystallization, and it turns out to be very successful and more reliable than the second virial coefficient criterion.
Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542.
Yanwei
Y
Jia
Xiang-Yang
XY
Liu
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry; D044367:Phase Transition; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D011506:Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D009113:Muramidase