Upside-down protein crystallization: designing microbatch experiments for microgravity.
The benefits of protein crystal growth in microgravity are well documented. The crystallization vessels currently employed for microgravity crystallization are far from optimal with regards to cost, sample volume, size, and ease of use. The use of microbatch experiments is a favorable alternative in each respect: 96 experiments of 0.5-2 microL volumes can be performed in a single microtiter tray measuring 5 x 8 cm and costing 1 pound sterling each. To date, the use of microbatch has not been pursued on account of concerns of oil leakage. To address this issue, a novel approach to microbatch crystallization experiments is described, where the microbatch plates are inverted throughout the duration of the experiment. The findings intimate the application of the microbatch method to space flight and the potential to drastically increase the output of microgravity crystallization research .
Khurshid
Sahir
S
Biological Structure and Function Section, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Chayen
Naomi E
NE
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002645:Chickens; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry; D008121:Nephropidae; D009821:Oils; D010232:Paraffin; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013026:Space Flight; D013500:Surface Tension; D014893:Weightlessness; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009821:Oils; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C018494:crustacyanins; C003427:thaumatin protein, plant; D010232:Paraffin; C015418:paraffin oils; D009113:Muramidase