title: Applications of the second virial coefficient: protein crystallization and solubility.
abstract: This article begins by highlighting some of the ground-based studies emanating from NASA's Microgravity Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) program. This is followed by a more detailed discussion of the history of and the progress made in one of the NASA-funded PCG investigations involving the use of measured second virial coefficients (B values) as a diagnostic indicator of solution conditions conducive to protein crystallization. A second application of measured B values involves the determination of solution conditions that improve or maximize the solubility of aqueous and membrane proteins. These two important applications have led to several technological improvements that simplify the experimental expertise required, enable the measurement of membrane proteins and improve the diagnostic capability and measurement throughput.
authors.affiliation: Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39759, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Center for Structural Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Delucas
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins
keywords: crystallization; second virial coefficient; solubility