Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
Published on: August 14, 2018
Role of anisotropic interactions in protein crystallization
1Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Abstract:
We have studied a simple model colloidal fluid to assess the role of anisotropic interactions in crystallization process when the interaction potential is short ranged compared with the size of the molecule, which is the case for the effective interaction between protein molecules in aqueous solutions. Using Monte Carlo simulations we have calculated the phase diagrams of soft dumbbell systems with different anisotropic interactions. It is shown that the anisotropic interactions change the phase behavior not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. By exploiting the anisotropic interactions in the crystallization process additional avenues for the search of optimal crystallization conditions are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Folding
Noncovalent Attractions in Biomolecules
Four types of noncovalent interactions are hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
Hydrogen bonding results from the electrostatic attraction of a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a strong-electronegative atom like oxygen,...
Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Protein-protein Interfaces
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

