The most powerful method for protein structure determination is X-ray crystallography which relies on the availability of high quality crystals. Obtaining crystals a major bottleneck, and inducing their nucleation crucial importance in this field. An effective to form introduce nucleation-inducing heterologous materials into crystallization solution. Porous are exceptionally at nucleation. It shown here that combined diffusion-adsorption effect can increase concentration inside pores,...

The rate of nucleation crystals is the subject extensive research, since it—together with time—determines number growing; in turn, their related to size. Experimental studies show that, for biomolecular crystals, despite required unusually high supersaturations, process distinctly slow. This slowness arises from inherent peculiarity such crystals. Therefore, a prerequisite management crystallization towards desired outcome molecular level understanding mechanism. In this paper, analyzing...

Number density of insulin crystals versus nucleation time dependences were measured simultaneously, during the same experiment, at four typical places: in solution bulk, glass support, air/solution interface, and solution/glass/air boundary. Stationary rates determined from linear parts corresponding plots, energy barriers for nucleus formation sizes estimated. A key finding present investigation was that, surprisingly, lowest barrier (3.8 × 10−13 erg), correspondingly smallest size (six...

Although they require surprisingly high supersaturations, both nucleation and growth of protein crystals proceed substantially more slowly as compared to small molecule crystallization. The slow the is explained by steric restriction for association molecules that due their highly inhomogeneous surfaces. Over surfaces, proteins exhibit a limited number discrete patches are only attractive portions on molecule. A simple model crystal has been devised this basis, which enables calculations...

Three-dimensional protein molecule structures are essential for acquiring a deeper insight of the human genome, and developing novel protein-based pharmaceuticals. X-ray diffraction studies such require well-diffracting crystals. A set external physical factors may promote direct crystallization so that crystals obtained useful studies. Application electric fields aids control over crystal size quality. Protein nucleation growth in presence reviewed. notion mesoscopic level impact on...

Abstract The nucleation of protein crystals is reconsidered taking into account the specificity molecules. In contrast to homogeneous surface properties small molecules, molecule highly inhomogeneous. Over their surfaces proteins exhibit high anisotropic distribution patches, which are able form crystalline bonds, crystallization patch representing only a fraction total molecule. Therefore, an appropriate spatial orientation colliding molecules required in order create cluster. This scenario...

Macromolecular crystallization is crucial to a large number of scientific fields, including structural biology; drug design, formulation, and delivery; manufacture biomaterials; preparation foodstuffs. The purpose this study facilitate control crystallization, by investigating hydrophobic interface-assisted protein both theoretically experimentally. application liquids as nucleation promoters or suppressors has rarely been investigated, provides an underused avenue explore in...

Abstract Nucleation of protein crystals by gold nanoparticles was observed. Lysozyme and ferritin were used as model proteins. The effect established with uncoated coated 16‐mercaptodecanoic acid. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The heterogeneous nucleation of hen-egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals has been repeatedly investigated using a double-(thermal)-pulse technique, thus detaching from growth stage. n(t) dependencies the nucleus number n, on templates poly-L-lysine, vs time, t were plotted and steady-state rates I determined. They compared with results obtained earlier for surfaces rendered hydrophobic (by means hexamethyl-disilazane) as well bare glass surfaces. In present paper we determine HEWL molecules in...

Abstract Heterogeneous (on‐glass) protein crystal nucleation was separated from the bulk one in systems of thin solution layers, confined between two glass plates custom made quasi two‐dimensional all‐glass cells, as well by applying forced flow. Two commercial samples hen‐egg‐white lysozyme, Seikagaku and Sigma were used model proteins. Applying classical technique separation time growth stages with layers thickness 0.05 cm we found that on‐glass prevailed highly HEWL, while on opposite,...

The nucleation of horse spleen ferritin (HSF) crystals on substrates was investigated using a new modification the double pulse technique. influence three different structureless * (glass, glass covered by methyl groups and poly-L-lysin template) studied. boundaries in phase-diagram, which separate zones crystal growth were obtained keeping pH = 5.0, CdSO 4 as crystallizing agent. steady-state rates determined. energy required for critical nuclei formation evaluated (10 -13 erg) sizes found...