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/sci/ - Science & Math

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4200041

Protein Crystallization Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:11:01 2011 No.4200041 [Reply] [Original]

I'm normally on /b/ but this seemed like a better place to ask my question. I've thought of a novel method for protein crystallization and i'm wondering a) if it's already been thought of and b) if it could potentially work.

So my idea is to add a membrane anchor (palmitate, GPI, etc.) to the protein in question. Insert multiple copies of the anchored protein to an artificial membrane. Since they are all in the same plane, shouldn't it be easier for them to form a lattice? And couldn't this lattice serve as sort of a large nucleation site for free unmodified copies of the protein to build on, thus forming a 3d crystal from a 2d lattice? Obviously there would still have to be multiple trials and errors with the crystallizing solution as per usual, but I think my membrane anchoring idea could facilitate the initial formation of the crystal.

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:15:33 2011 No.4200052 bump

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:21:13 2011 No.4200068 don't you have to compromise the saturation of the fluid if you are going to use protein anchors? i'm not very knowledgeable on this subject.

>>

OP Fri Dec 30 03:26:45 2011 No.4200080

well the solution would still have to have a very high concentration of the protein your trying to crystallize, i was thinking that the anchors would allow the proteins to congregate faster and more easily, since they would all be in the same plane. For the crystal to grow into a 3d form, though the free proteins in the solution would not be modified.

To put it more simply, the membrane anchoring is just to speed up the rate limiting step of getting the crystal to start growing, and i'm wondering if this would work

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:30:17 2011 No.4200084 >>4200080 thats a cool idea. I'm not a bio person, but would you need to transfer the proteins to a different apparatus that would accomodate 3d growth? or would a petri dish or film suffice?

>>

Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:42:36 2011 No.4200101
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>>4200041
>attempting to discuss actual science on /sci/

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>>

OP Fri Dec 30 03:42:45 2011 No.4200104

I'm not sure. I think that the crystallization could still occur just in the soup of reagents and detergents. Crystallization is notoriously difficult, because it's tricky to get the crystal to form. From what I know, further growth occurs moderately easily once there's an initial crystal. What I like about my idea is that it could conceivably be applied to any protein that is not already membrane-based.

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:46:08 2011 No.4200113 File: 26 KB, 318x250, 132938495867.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google] >>4200101 >biology >hard science

>>	OP Fri Dec 30 03:47:17 2011 No.4200116 File: 103 KB, 400x400, 12697365.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]

>>	OP Fri Dec 30 03:55:12 2011 No.4200131 bump

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:56:21 2011 No.4200136 File: 19 KB, 334x393, 1312785899067.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google] >>4200116 >>4200131 ...go back to /b/...

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 03:59:37 2011 No.4200141 File: 107 KB, 890x890, costan.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google] >>4200131 >>4200116 >2011 >thinks you have to bump threads on /sci/ >ISHYGDDT

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 04:00:45 2011 No.4200144 >>4200141 >>4200136 u jelly cause OP knows shit

>>	Anonymous Fri Dec 30 04:04:16 2011 No.4200153 >>4200144 oh boy, memes!