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The Averaged Face Growth Rates of lysozyme Crystals: The Effect of TemperatureMeasurements of the averaged or macroscopic face growth rates of lysozyme crystals are reported here for the (110) face of tetragonal lysozyme, at three sets of pH and salt concentrations, with temperatures over a 4-22 C range for several protein concentrations. The growth rate trends with supersaturation were similar to previous microscopic growth rate measurements. However, it was found that at high super-saturations the growth rates attain a maximum and then start decreasing. No 'dead zone' was observed but the growth rates were found to approach zero asymptotically at very low super-saturations. The growth rate data also displayed a dependence on pH and salt concentration which could not be characterized solely by the super-saturation. A complete mechanism for lysozyme crystal growth, involving the formation of an aggregate growth unit, mass transport of the growth unit to the crystal interface and faceted crystal growth by growth unit addition, is suggested. Such a mechanism may provide a more consistent explanation for the observed growth rate trends than those suggested by other investigators. The nutrient solution interactions leading to the formation of the aggregate growth unit may, thus, be as important as those occurring at the crystal interface and may account for the differences between small molecule and protein crystal growth.
Document ID
19960051365
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Nadarajah, Arunan
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Forsythe, Elizabeth L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Pusey, Marc L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Crystal Growth
Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishers
Volume: 151
Subject Category
Solid-State Physics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-111881
NAS 1.15:111881
Accession Number
96N73107
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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