Trial by fire: are the crystals macromolecules?
Protein crystallization screens frequently yield salt crystals as well as protein crystals. A simple method for determining whether a crystal is composed of salt or macromolecules is suggested. A drop containing one or more crystals is transferred to a glass cover slip and the cover slip is then passed through the flame of a Bunsen burner. Macromolecule crystals are destroyed by this treatment, while salt crystals generally remain. The test can be performed after other commonly used tests such as crushing and staining.
Raghunathan
Kannan
K
Michigan State University, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, USA.
Harris
Paul T
PT
Arvidson
Dennis N
DN
D003460:Crystallization; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012492:Salts / Q000032:analysis
D011506:Proteins; D012492:Salts
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2005 Jan;61(Pt 1):60-6
15608376
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1964 Sep;52:833-9
14212562
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2006 Mar;62(Pt 3):339-46
16510981
Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2009 Jul 1;65(Pt 7):702-4
19574644
Methods Mol Biol. 2007;363:131-51
17272840
Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 Jan;13(1):44-8
16341226
Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2010 Apr 1;66(Pt 4):478-84
20383027
Nature. 1998 Jan 8;391(6663):203-6
9428770
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2007 Apr;63(Pt 4):526-35
17372358
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2003 Jan;59(Pt 1):139-41
12499550
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2002 Nov;58(Pt 11):1901-6
12393920
Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2009 Jun 1;65(Pt 6):629-31
19478449
Anal Chem. 2009 May 15;81(10):3769-75
19388631
Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2010 Mar 1;66(Pt 3):364-72
20208182
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2004 Apr;60(Pt 4):696-702
15039558