AbstractEither a homogeneous or inhomogeneous magnetic field has been known to dampen the protein crystal growth. To date the mechanism is not clear. However, it was generally proposed that the magnetic field may dampen the convection in the solution, resulting in a reduced crystal growth rate and possibly a good crystal quality, similar to the case of protein crystal growth in space. To understand the mechanism of the magnetic field effect on protein crystal growth, further explorations on the magnetic field effect on protein solution, on the processes of crystal growth and dissolution, and on different crystallization (solution) systems, should be valuable. In this paper we present our recent efforts to study magnetic field effects on the dissolution processes of tetragonal lysozyme crystals under a strong magnetic field. A layer of oriented tetragonal lysozyme crystals was prepared under a temperature gradient and magnetic field, after that the crystals were dissolved by increasing the temperature of the solution. The lysozyme molecules will diffuse upwards due to the steep concentration gradient at the lower side of the cell caused by the dissolution. The evolution of the concentration in the solution was measured in-situ using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The results confirmed that the dissolution process of the crystals was slowed by the magnetic field. Judging from the concentration evolution versus time at different positions in the solution, we concluded that the apparent diffusion coefficient of lysozyme molecules was decreased by the magnetic field. The results were discussed using a suspended crystal model in the initial dissolution stage.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Strong magnetic field effect on the dissolution process of tetragonal lysozyme crystals


    Contributors:
    Yin, D.C. (author) / Wakayama, N.I. (author) / Inatomi, Y. (author) / Huang, W.D. (author) / Kuribayashi, K. (author)

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 32 , 2 ; 217-223


    Publication date :

    2003-03-13


    Size :

    7 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Strong Magnetic Field Effect on the Dissolution Process of Tetragonal Lysozyme Crystals

    Yin, D. C. / Wakayama, N. I. / Inatomi, Y. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Growth and dissolution kinetics of tetragonal lysozyme

    MONACO, L. / ROSENBERGER, F. | AIAA | 1993


    Growth and dissolution kinetics of tetragonal lysozyme

    Monaco, L. A. / Rosenberger, F. | NTRS | 1993


    Femtosecond laser processing of lysozyme crystals

    Kashii, M. / Kitano, H. / Hosokawa, Y. et al. | IEEE | 2005