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Protein crystal growth in microgravity: Temperature induced large scale crystallization of insulinOne of the major stumbling blocks that prevents rapid structure determination using x-ray crystallography is macro-molecular crystal growth. There are many examples where crystallization takes longer than structure determination. In some cases, it is impossible to grow useful crystals on earth. Recent experiments conducted in conjuction with NASA on various Space Shuttle missions have demonstrated that protein crystals often grow larger and display better internal molecular order than their earth-grown counterparts. This paper reports results from three Shuttle flights using the Protein Crystallization Facility (PCF). The PCF hardware produced large, high-quality insulin crystals by using a temperature change as the sole means to affect protein solubility and thus, crystallization. The facility consists of cylinders/containers with volumes of 500, 200, 100, and 50 ml. Data from the three Shuttle flights demonstrated that larger, higher resolution crystals (as evidenced by x-ray diffraction data) were obtained from the microgravity experiments when compared to earth-grown crystals.
Document ID
19950029963
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Long, Marianna M.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Delucas, Larry J.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Smith, C.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Carson, M.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Moore, K.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Harrington, Michael D.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Pillion, D. J.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Bishop, S. P.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Rosenblum, W. M.
(Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL US, United States)
Naumann, R. J.
(Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL US, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Microgravity Science and Technology
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0938-0108
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Accession Number
95A61562
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-813
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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