Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
09:15
Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
Published on: August 14, 2018
New concepts and aids to facilitate crystallization
Magdalena A Bukowska1, Markus G Grütter
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|April 13, 2013
Summary
Crystallization chaperones help stabilize complex proteins, enabling structural determination through X-ray crystallography. Combining chaperones with protein engineering and additives enhances success rates for challenging biological targets.
Area of Science:
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
- Protein Crystallography
Background:
- Complex biological systems like membrane proteins and multiprotein assemblies are difficult to crystallize.
- Obtaining structural information is crucial for understanding their function.
- Existing methods are insufficient for these challenging targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in chaperone-assisted crystallography.
- To highlight the importance of synergistic approaches for crystallizing difficult targets.
- To provide insights into successful strategies for structural determination.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing high-affinity binding partners (crystallization chaperones) to form stable complexes.
- Complexing chaperones with target proteins to reduce conformational flexibility.
- Employing protein engineering and crystallization additives in conjunction with chaperones.
Main Results:
- Chaperone-assisted crystallography has shown recent successes in determining structures of challenging proteins.
- Chaperones facilitate the formation of well-ordered crystals by stabilizing target proteins.
- Synergistic approaches involving chaperones, protein engineering, and additives improve crystallization outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Chaperone-assisted crystallography is a powerful technique for structural biology.
- Integrated strategies involving chaperones are key to overcoming crystallization challenges.
- Further investment in these combined approaches will drive success in structural studies of complex biological systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
01:10Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria
Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...
01:12Precipitation Processes
The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
01:59Solution Equilibrium and Saturation
Imagine adding a small amount of sugar to a glass of water, stirring until all the sugar has dissolved, and then adding a bit more. You can repeat this process until the sugar concentration of the solution reaches its natural limit, a limit determined primarily by the relative strengths of the solute-solute, solute-solvent, and solvent-solvent attractive forces. You can be certain that you have reached this limit because, no matter how long you stir the solution, undissolved sugar remains. The...