1
|
Quilló GL, Bhonsale S, Collas A, Xiouras C, Van Impe JF. Iterative Model-Based Optimal Experimental Design for Mixture-Process Variable Models to Predict Solubility. Chem Eng Res Des 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
2
|
Current insights into protein solubility: A review of its importance for alternative proteins. Food Hydrocoll 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.108416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
3
|
Stohrer C, Horrell S, Meier S, Sans M, von Stetten D, Hough M, Goldman A, Monteiro DCF, Pearson AR. Homogeneous batch micro-crystallization of proteins from ammonium sulfate. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:194-204. [PMID: 33559608 PMCID: PMC7869895 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320015454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of X-ray free-electron lasers has led to the development of serial macromolecular crystallography techniques, making it possible to study smaller and more challenging crystal systems and to perform time-resolved studies on fast time scales. For most of these studies the desired crystal size is limited to a few micrometres, and the generation of large amounts of nanocrystals or microcrystals of defined size has become a bottleneck for the wider implementation of these techniques. Despite this, methods to reliably generate microcrystals and fine-tune their size have been poorly explored. Working with three different enzymes, L-aspartate α-decarboxylase, copper nitrite reductase and copper amine oxidase, the precipitating properties of ammonium sulfate were exploited to quickly transition from known vapour-diffusion conditions to reproducible, large-scale batch crystallization, circumventing the tedious determination of phase diagrams. Furthermore, the specific ammonium sulfate concentration was used to fine-tune the crystal size and size distribution. Ammonium sulfate is a common precipitant in protein crystallography, making these findings applicable to many crystallization systems to facilitate the production of large amounts of microcrystals for serial macromolecular crystallography experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Stohrer
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Horrell
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, CFEL, Building 99, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Meier
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, CFEL, Building 99, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marta Sans
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, CFEL, Building 99, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - David von Stetten
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Goldman
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Diana C. F. Monteiro
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, CFEL, Building 99, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Hauptman–Woodward Medical Research Institute, 700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Arwen R. Pearson
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, CFEL, Building 99, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nakamura H, Takahashi S, Inaka K, Tanaka H. Semi-empirical model to estimate ideal conditions for the growth of large protein crystals. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:1174-1183. [PMID: 33263323 PMCID: PMC7709197 DOI: 10.1107/s205979832001445x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A large high-quality crystal is required to specify the positions of H atoms in neutron structural analysis. Consequently, several methods have been proposed for obtaining such large crystals, and theoretical considerations for growing them have been presented. However, further investigation is required to obtain a numerical model that can provide quantitative experimental conditions for obtaining a single large crystal. In the case of protein crystallization experiments, the amount of sample is often limited. Therefore, it is more realistic to make a rough estimation from a small number of experiments. This paper proposes a method of estimating the optimum experimental conditions for the growth of large protein crystals by performing a small number of experiments using a micro-batch method and reporting a numerical model based on nucleation theory and a linear approximation of the crystal-growth rate. Specifically, micro-batch experiments are performed to provide the empirical parameters for the model and to help to estimate the conditions for the growth of a crystal of a predetermined size using a certain sample concentration and volume. This method is offered as a step on the path towards efficiently and rationally producing large crystals that can be subjected to neutron diffraction without depending on luck or on performing many experiments. It is expected to contribute to drug design and the elucidation of protein molecular functions and mechanisms by obtaining positional information on H atoms in the protein molecule, which is an advantage of neutron diffraction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirohiko Nakamura
- Confocal Science Inc., Hayakawa 2nd Building 7F, 2-12-2 Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, Japan
| | - Sachiko Takahashi
- Confocal Science Inc., Hayakawa 2nd Building 7F, 2-12-2 Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, Japan
| | - Koji Inaka
- Maruwa Foods and Biosciences Inc., 170-1 Tsutsui-cho, Yamatokoriyama, Nara 639-1123, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Confocal Science Inc., Hayakawa 2nd Building 7F, 2-12-2 Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Applications of X-ray Powder Diffraction in Protein Crystallography and Drug Screening. CRYSTALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst10020054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Providing fundamental information on intra/intermolecular interactions and physicochemical properties, the three-dimensional structural characterization of biological macromolecules is of extreme importance towards understanding their mechanism of action. Among other methods, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) has proved its applicability and efficiency in numerous studies of different materials. Owing to recent methodological advances, this method is now considered a respectable tool for identifying macromolecular phase transitions, quantitative analysis, and determining structural modifications of samples ranging from small organics to full-length proteins. An overview of the XRPD applications and recent improvements related to the study of challenging macromolecules and peptides toward structure-based drug design is discussed. This review congregates recent studies in the field of drug formulation and delivery processes, as well as in polymorph identification and the effect of ligands and environmental conditions upon crystal characteristics. These studies further manifest the efficiency of protein XRPD for quick and accurate preliminary structural characterization.
Collapse
|
6
|
Beale JH, Bolton R, Marshall SA, Beale EV, Carr SB, Ebrahim A, Moreno-Chicano T, Hough MA, Worrall JAR, Tews I, Owen RL. Successful sample preparation for serial crystallography experiments. J Appl Crystallogr 2019; 52:1385-1396. [PMID: 31798361 PMCID: PMC6878878 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576719013517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Serial crystallography, at both synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser light sources, is becoming increasingly popular. However, the tools in the majority of crystallization laboratories are focused on producing large single crystals by vapour diffusion that fit the cryo-cooled paradigm of modern synchrotron crystallography. This paper presents several case studies and some ideas and strategies on how to perform the conversion from a single crystal grown by vapour diffusion to the many thousands of micro-crystals required for modern serial crystallography grown by batch crystallization. These case studies aim to show (i) how vapour diffusion conditions can be converted into batch by optimizing the length of time crystals take to appear; (ii) how an understanding of the crystallization phase diagram can act as a guide when designing batch crystallization protocols; and (iii) an accessible methodology when attempting to scale batch conditions to larger volumes. These methods are needed to minimize the sample preparation gap between standard rotation crystallography and dedicated serial laboratories, ultimately making serial crystallography more accessible to all crystallographers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John H. Beale
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Rachel Bolton
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Stephen A. Marshall
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Emma V. Beale
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Stephen B. Carr
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Tadeo Moreno-Chicano
- Institute de Biologie Structurale, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Michael A. Hough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | | | - Ivo Tews
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Weiss AKH, Holzknecht M, Cappuccio E, Dorigatti I, Kreidl K, Naschberger A, Rupp B, Gstach H, Jansen-Dürr P. Expression, Purification, Crystallization, and Enzyme Assays of Fumarylacetoacetate Hydrolase Domain-Containing Proteins. J Vis Exp 2019:10.3791/59729. [PMID: 31282888 PMCID: PMC7115867 DOI: 10.3791/59729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) domain-containing proteins (FAHD) are identified members of the FAH superfamily in eukaryotes. Enzymes of this superfamily generally display multi-functionality, involving mainly hydrolase and decarboxylase mechanisms. This article presents a series of consecutive methods for the expression and purification of FAHD proteins, mainly FAHD protein 1 (FAHD1) orthologues among species (human, mouse, nematodes, plants, etc.). Covered methods are protein expression in E. coli, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, preparative and analytical gel filtration, crystallization, X-ray diffraction, and photometric assays. Concentrated protein of high levels of purity (>98%) may be employed for crystallization or antibody production. Proteins of similar or lower quality may be employed in enzyme assays or used as antigens in detection systems (Western-Blot, ELISA). In the discussion of this work, the identified enzymatic mechanisms of FAHD1 are outlined to describe its hydrolase and decarboxylase bi-functionality in more detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander K H Weiss
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck Austria;
| | - Max Holzknecht
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Elia Cappuccio
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Ilaria Dorigatti
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Karin Kreidl
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Rupp
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck Austria
| | - Hubert Gstach
- Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna Austria
| | - Pidder Jansen-Dürr
- Research Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck Austria; Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bijelic A, Rompel A. Polyoxometalates: more than a phasing tool in protein crystallography. CHEMTEXTS 2018; 4:10. [PMID: 30596006 PMCID: PMC6294228 DOI: 10.1007/s40828-018-0064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Protein crystallography is the most widely used method for determining the molecular structure of proteins and obtaining structural information on protein–ligand complexes at the atomic level. As the structure determines the functions and properties of a protein, crystallography is of immense importance for nearly all research fields related to biochemistry. However, protein crystallography suffers from some major drawbacks, whereby the unpredictability of the crystallization process represents the main bottleneck. Crystallization is still more or less a ‘trial and error’ based procedure, and therefore, very time and resource consuming. Many strategies have been developed in the past decades to improve or enable the crystallization of proteins, whereby the use of so-called additives, which are mostly small molecules that make proteins more amenable to crystallization, is one of the most convenient and successful methods. Most of the commonly used additives are, however, restricted to particular crystallization conditions or groups of proteins. Therefore, a more universal additive addressing a wider range of proteins and being applicable to a broad spectrum of crystallization conditions would represent a significant advance in the field of protein crystallography. In recent years, polyoxometalates (POMs) emerged as a promising group of crystallization additives due to their unique structures and properties. In this regard, the tellurium-centered Anderson–Evans polyoxotungstate [TeW6O24]6− (TEW) showed its high potential as crystallization additive. In this lecture text, the development of POMs as tools in protein crystallography are discussed with a special focus on the so far most successful cluster TEW.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Bijelic
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Annette Rompel
- Universität Wien, Fakultät für Chemie, Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Klijn ME, Hubbuch J. Application of Empirical Phase Diagrams for Multidimensional Data Visualization of High-Throughput Microbatch Crystallization Experiments. J Pharm Sci 2018; 107:2063-2069. [PMID: 29709489 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Protein phase diagrams are a tool to investigate the cause and consequence of solution conditions on protein phase behavior. The effects are scored according to aggregation morphologies such as crystals or amorphous precipitates. Solution conditions affect morphologic features, such as crystal size, as well as kinetic features, such as crystal growth time. Commonly used data visualization techniques include individual line graphs or phase diagrams based on symbols. These techniques have limitations in terms of handling large data sets, comprehensiveness or completeness. To eliminate these limitations, morphologic and kinetic features obtained from crystallization images generated with high throughput microbatch experiments have been visualized with radar charts in combination with the empirical phase diagram method. Morphologic features (crystal size, shape, and number, as well as precipitate size) and kinetic features (crystal and precipitate onset and growth time) are extracted for 768 solutions with varying chicken egg white lysozyme concentration, salt type, ionic strength, and pH. Image-based aggregation morphology and kinetic features were compiled into a single and easily interpretable figure, thereby showing that the empirical phase diagram method can support high-throughput crystallization experiments in its data amount as well as its data complexity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marieke E Klijn
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Biomolecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
This chapter provides a review of different advanced methods that help to increase the success rate of a crystallization project, by producing larger and higher quality single crystals for determination of macromolecular structures by crystallographic methods. For this purpose, the chapter is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the fundamentals for understanding the crystallization process through different strategies based on physical and chemical approaches. The second part presents new approaches involved in more sophisticated methods not only for growing protein crystals but also for controlling the size and orientation of crystals through utilization of electromagnetic fields and other advanced techniques. The last section deals with three different aspects: the importance of microgravity, the use of ligands to stabilize proteins, and the use of microfluidics to obtain protein crystals. All these advanced methods will allow the readers to obtain suitable crystalline samples for high-resolution X-ray and neutron crystallography.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abel Moreno
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Av. Universidad 3000, Cd.Mx., Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dinç I, Pusey ML, Aygün RS. Optimizing Associative Experimental Design for Protein Crystallization Screening. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience 2016; 15:101-12. [PMID: 26955046 PMCID: PMC4898777 DOI: 10.1109/tnb.2016.2536030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The goal of protein crystallization screening is the determination of the main factors of importance to crystallizing the protein under investigation. One of the major issues about determining these factors is that screening is often expanded to many hundreds or thousands of conditions to maximize combinatorial chemical space coverage for maximizing the chances of a successful (crystalline) outcome. In this paper, we propose an experimental design method called "Associative Experimental Design (AED)" and an optimization method includes eliminating prohibited combinations and prioritizing reagents based on AED analysis of results from protein crystallization experiments. AED generates candidate cocktails based on these initial screening results. These results are analyzed to determine those screening factors in chemical space that are most likely to lead to higher scoring outcomes, crystals. We have tested AED on three proteins derived from the hyperthermophile Thermococcus thioreducens, and we applied an optimization method to these proteins. Our AED method generated novel cocktails (count provided in parentheses) leading to crystals for three proteins as follows: Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (4), HAD superfamily hydrolase (2), Nucleoside kinase (1). After getting promising results, we have tested our optimization method on four different proteins. The AED method with optimization yielded 4, 3, and 20 crystalline conditions for holo Human Transferrin, archaeal exosome protein, and Nucleoside diphosphate kinase, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imren Dinç
- DataMedia Research Lab, Computer Science Department, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 35899 USA
| | - Marc L. Pusey
- iXpressGenes, Inc., 601 Genome Way, Huntsville, Alabama 35806 USA
| | - Ramazan S. Aygün
- DataMedia Research Lab, Computer Science Department, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama 35899 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Deller MC, Kong L, Rupp B. Protein stability: a crystallographer's perspective. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS 2016; 72:72-95. [PMID: 26841758 PMCID: PMC4741188 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15024619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein stability is a topic of major interest for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and food industries, in addition to being a daily consideration for academic researchers studying proteins. An understanding of protein stability is essential for optimizing the expression, purification, formulation, storage and structural studies of proteins. In this review, discussion will focus on factors affecting protein stability, on a somewhat practical level, particularly from the view of a protein crystallographer. The differences between protein conformational stability and protein compositional stability will be discussed, along with a brief introduction to key methods useful for analyzing protein stability. Finally, tactics for addressing protein-stability issues during protein expression, purification and crystallization will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc C Deller
- Stanford ChEM-H, Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center, Stanford University, Shriram Center, 443 Via Ortega, Room 097, MC5082, Stanford, CA 94305-4125, USA
| | - Leopold Kong
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building 8, Room 1A03, 8 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Bernhard Rupp
- Department of Forensic Crystallography, k.-k. Hofkristallamt, 91 Audrey Place, Vista, CA 92084, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ng JD, Baird JK, Coates L, Garcia-Ruiz JM, Hodge TA, Huang S. Large-volume protein crystal growth for neutron macromolecular crystallography. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:358-70. [PMID: 25849493 PMCID: PMC4388167 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15005348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutron macromolecular crystallography (NMC) is the prevailing method for the accurate determination of the positions of H atoms in macromolecules. As neutron sources are becoming more available to general users, finding means to optimize the growth of protein crystals to sizes suitable for NMC is extremely important. Historically, much has been learned about growing crystals for X-ray diffraction. However, owing to new-generation synchrotron X-ray facilities and sensitive detectors, protein crystal sizes as small as in the nano-range have become adequate for structure determination, lessening the necessity to grow large crystals. Here, some of the approaches, techniques and considerations for the growth of crystals to significant dimensions that are now relevant to NMC are revisited. These include experimental strategies utilizing solubility diagrams, ripening effects, classical crystallization techniques, microgravity and theoretical considerations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
- iXpressGenes Inc., Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, 601 Genome Way, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA
| | - James K. Baird
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| | - Leighton Coates
- Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, MS6475, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Juan M. Garcia-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos (IACT), CSIC–Universidad de Granada, Avenida de la Innovación s/n, Armilla (Granada), Spain
| | - Teresa A. Hodge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| | - Sijay Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
| |
Collapse
|