Protein nanocrystallography: a new approach to structural proteomics

This article describes a new approach to structural proteomics that can produce and characterize diffracting, stable and radiation-resistant crystals of miniscule dimensions using nanotechnology. We believe that the protein microcrystals obtained by nanotechnology-based protein thin-film template crystallization, as well as groundbreaking technology, such as atomic force microscopy, nanogravimetry and synchrotron microfocus, have enabled protein nanocrystallography to be defined as a unique technology capable of forming and characterizing stable protein microcrystals down to atomic resolution. A new route from art to science and technology has, therefore, been opened in protein crystallography, and it could be used to unravel the mysteries of many systems that remain unsolved.