title: The sandwich method for protein crystallization and its effect on crystal growth.
abstract: A device has been invented for protein crystallization by sandwiching the liquid droplet between two surfaces, in which both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces can be used as crystallization substrates. Comparing with the traditional hanging drop method, it can also reduce the evaporation rate of the liquid droplet and provide a stable environment for the crystal growth. In this work, crystal growth experiments for several proteins, especially on the hydrophilic substrate of mica, have shown the positive effect on crystal growth for improving crystallization conditions and the quality of crystals. The features of this new sandwich method and its mechanism have also been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D011506:Proteins; C011934:mica