title: Crystal growth of proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses in gels.
abstract: Medium-sized single crystals with perfect habits and no defect producing intense and well-resolved diffraction patterns are the dream of every protein crystallographer. Crystals of biological macromolecules possessing these characteristics can be prepared within a medium in which mass transport is restricted to diffusion. Chemical gels (like polysiloxane) and physical gels (such as agarose) provide such an environment and are therefore suitable for the crystallisation of biological macromolecules. Instructions for the preparation of each type of gel are given to urge crystal growers to apply diffusive media for enhancing crystallographic quality of their crystals. Examples of quality enhancement achieved with silica and agarose gels are given. Results obtained with other substances forming gel-like media (such as lipidic phases and cellulose derivatives) are presented. Finally, the use of gels in combination with capillary tubes for counter-diffusion experiments is discussed. Methods and techniques implemented with proteins can also be applied to nucleic acids and nucleoprotein assemblies such as viruses.
authors.affiliation: Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France. b.lorber@ibmc.u-strasbg.fr <b.lorber@ibmc.u-strasbg.fr>
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lorber
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Théobald-Dietrich
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schellenberger
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Capelle
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanglier
authors.forename: Noëlle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Potier
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giegé
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003460:Crystallization; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014780:Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011506:Proteins