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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Protein Crystallization for X-ray Crystallography
Published on: January 16, 2011
From egg to crystal: A practical on purification, characterization, and crystallization of lysozyme for bachelor
Vincent Olieric1, Angélique Schreiber, Bernard Lorber
1From the Institut Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UPR du CNRS "Architecture et Réactivité de I'ARN", Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg I, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
Abstract:
A practical hands-on course encompassing enzyme purification, biochemical characterization, and crystallization that completed the course work of 350 second-year bachelor students enrolled in molecular biology/biochemistry was given at the Université Louis Pasteur of Strasbourg (France). The experimental part of the practical dealt entirely with the model protein lysozyme isolated from hen egg-white. It was designed as a research project to give students the possibility to practice biochemical methods such as chromatography, electrophoresis, and spectrophotometry. It also included enzyme activity assay and protein crystal growth that are usually taught in master-level courses. The organization of the practical work and the related experimental procedures are described and discussed.
