MORPHOLOGY STUDY OF LYSOZYME CRYSTALS GROWN USING PRECIPITANT NICL_2 INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF A MAGNETIC FIELD

摘要

The effects of magnetic field on the growth process of protein crystals is an attractive topic since it may provide a new means in addition to microgravity condition to produce protein crystals of higher quality than in the normal case. In this paper, we present our recent efforts to study the mechanisms of the protein crystal growth under a strong magnetic field. Contrary to all of the previous studies concerning magnetic field in which only diamagnetic materials were used as crystallization agents, this paper demonstrates another salt, NiCl_2, which is a paramagnetic material, as a crystallizing agent. The morphologies cf the crystals both inside and outside of the magnetic field were studied. It was found that the crystals grown with NiCl_2 showed large variety of morphologies depending on the growth conditions. Furthermore, it was concluded that magnetic field can substantially affect the crystal morphology.