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Convective instability in protein crystal growth
1Service de Chimie-Physique, Centre for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems, CP 231, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. dlima@ulb.ac.be
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|September 28, 2004
Summary
Convection onset during protein crystallization is theoretically investigated. Critical capillary diameter and crystal growth speed influencing convection stability were determined, aligning with numerical simulations.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Fluid Dynamics
- Crystallography
Background:
- Protein crystallization is crucial for structural biology.
- Convection can impact crystal quality and growth.
- Understanding convection onset is key to optimizing crystallization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically determine conditions for convection onset in protein crystallization.
- To analyze the influence of protein and salt concentrations on fluid dynamics.
- To investigate the role of capillary diameter and crystal growth speed on stability.
Main Methods:
- Solving coupled diffusion-convection and Navier-Stokes equations.
- Modeling density variations due to protein and salt concentrations.
- Performing linear stability analysis on base concentration profiles.
- Numerical integration of the developed model.
Main Results:
- Established base profiles for protein and salt concentrations.
- Identified critical capillary diameters for convection onset.
- Quantified the effect of crystal growth speed on system stability.
- Demonstrated agreement between linear stability analysis and numerical results.
Conclusions:
- Theoretical framework established for predicting convection onset.
- Critical parameters influencing convection in protein crystallization identified.
- Findings provide insights for controlling protein crystal growth.