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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Optimization of Crystal Growth for Neutron Macromolecular Crystallography
Published on: March 13, 2021
Crystallization of a large single crystal of a B-DNA decamer for a neutron diffraction experiment by the
Shigeki Arai1, Toshiyuki Chatake, Yoshiaki Minezaki
1Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki-ken, 319-1195, Japan.
Abstract:
Crystallization of a large single crystal of a B-DNA decamer, d(CCATTAATGG), for a neutron-diffraction experiment has been accomplished by an analysis of its solubility phase diagram and a large single crystal was successfully crystallized at around the minimum solubility point of the oligonucleotide: 30%(v/v) MPD, 100 mM MgCl(2) pD 6.6 using 0.4 ml D(2)O solutions of the DNA (sample concentration 1.5 mM). It is confirmed that the resulting crystal (dimensions: 1.7 x 1.3 x 0.6 mm) diffracts sufficiently well for neutron data collection.
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