title: Practical physics behind growing crystals of biological macromolecules.
abstract: The aim of this review is to provide biocrystallographers who intend to tackle protein-crystallization with theory and practical examples. Crystallization involves two separate processes, nucleation and growth, which are rarely completely unconnected. Here we give theoretical background and concrete examples illustrating protein crystallization. We describe the nucleation of a new phase, solid or liquid, and the growth and transformation of existing crystals obtained by primary or secondary nucleation or by seeding. Above all, we believe that a thorough knowledge of the phase diagram is vital to the selection of starting position and path for any crystallization experiment.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, CINaM (Centre Interdisciplnaire de Nanosciences de Marseille), Campus de Luminy, Case 913, F-13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Candoni
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grossier
authors.forename: Zoubida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hammadi
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veesler
mesh_terms: D001671:Biochemistry; D001703:Biophysics; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins