Malonate: a versatile cryoprotectant and stabilizing solution for salt-grown macromolecular crystals
Todd Holyoak1, Timothy D Fenn, Mark A Wilson
1Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
Acta Crystallographica. Section D, Biological Crystallography
|December 4, 2003
Abstract:
Collection of quality data on high-energy synchrotron sources requires the selection of a cryoprotectant that allows protein crystals to be cryocooled without damage to the crystal and with suppression of ice formation. The use of sodium malonate as a versatile cryoprotectant for salt-grown protein crystals is presented here. In addition to its useful cryoprotectant properties, sodium malonate can also function as a versatile stabilizing solution that allows the manipulation, derivatization and ligand soaking of crystals grown from salt that may not be possible in the crystal mother liquor.


