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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Crystallization of Proteins on Chip by Microdialysis for In Situ X-ray Diffraction Studies
Published on: April 11, 2021
Rapid solubility measurement of protein crystals as a function of precipitant concentration with micro-dialysis cell
Katsuyoshi Nakazato1, Tomoko Homma, Tatsuya Tomo
1Department of Applied Physics, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, 3-25-40 Sakurajosui, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8550, Japan. nakazato@phys.chs.nihon-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A novel dialysis-based technique was developed for the rapid and sample-saving determination of the precipitant dependence of protein solubility. A unique thin dialysis cell was developed which permits both the direct optical measurement of protein concentration and the observation of concentration gradients around a crystal via two-beam interferometry. Interferograms around a lysozyme crystal under the desired concentrations of precipitant (NaCl) and lysozyme were observed to determine whether the crystal is growing or dissolving. This technique enables the precipitant-dependent solubility curve of lysozyme crystal to be obtained in two days using a small sample (total amount: 7 mg lysozyme).
