Critical Behavior at the L-L Phase Transition of Lysozyme Protein Solutions

Recent efforts suggest the possibility that crystallization, and liquid-liquid (L-L) phase transitions and critical phenomena are characteristics universal to all macromolecular solutions. Of particular interest to protein crystallographers are the predictions of a critical slowing of crystal growth and subsequent formation of nascent crystals at the L-L phase boundary. Herein, the effects of the L-L phase transition on both crystal growth rates and microcrystal formation are experimentally determined. In general, it was determined that critical slowing down of protein crystal growth rates occurred, as predicted. The L-L phase transition, however, had a net negative influence in the formation of nascent protein crystals. Although crystal nucleation was not induced by the L-L phase transition, it is considered that the phase behavior of macromolecular solutions can be universally defined.