X-ray diffraction of protein crystal grown in a nano-liter scale droplet in a microchannel and evaluation of its applicability.
We describe the technical aspects of the in-situ X-ray diffraction of a protein crystal prepared by a nanodroplet-based crystallization method.  We were able to obtain diffraction patterns from a crystal grown in a capillary without any manipulation.  Especially in our experimental approach, the crystals that moved to the nanodroplet interface were fixed strongly enough to carry out X-ray diffraction measurements that could be attributed to the high surface tension of the nanodroplet.  The crystal was damaged by an indirect action of the X-rays because our in-situ X-ray diffraction measurement was carried out in the liquid phase without freezing the crystal; however, the obtained several diffraction patterns were of sufficiently fine quality for the crystal structure factors to be generated.  We consider the technical examination presented in this paper to represent a seamless coupling of crystallization to X-ray analysis.
Department of Molecular and Material Sciences, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan.
Masatoshi
M
Maeki
Saori
S
Yoshizuka
Hiroshi
H
Yamaguchi
Masahide
M
Kawamoto
Kenichi
K
Yamashita
Hiroyuki
H
Nakamura
Masaya
M
Miyazaki
Hideaki
H
Maeda
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D055616:Microtechnology; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013500:Surface Tension; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
D010940:Plant Proteins; C003427:thaumatin protein, plant; D009113:Muramidase