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Related Concept Videos

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

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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...
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Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

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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...
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Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

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Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
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Lattice Centering and Coordination Number02:33

Lattice Centering and Coordination Number

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The structure of a crystalline solid, whether a metal or not, is best described by considering its simplest repeating unit, which is referred to as its unit cell. The unit cell consists of lattice points that represent the locations of atoms or ions. The entire structure then consists of this unit cell repeating in three dimensions. The three different types of unit cells present in the cubic lattice are illustrated in Figure 1.
Types of Unit Cells
Imagine taking a large number of identical...
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Precipitation Processes01:12

Precipitation Processes

6.6K
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...
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Colloidal precipitates01:09

Colloidal precipitates

6.9K
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
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Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
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Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering

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Do protein crystals nucleate within dense liquid clusters?

Dominique Maes1, Maria A Vorontsova2, Marco A C Potenza3

  • 1Structural Biology Brussels (SBB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

Acta Crystallographica. Section F, Structural Biology Communications
|July 7, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Protein-dense liquid clusters precede protein crystal formation, acting as nucleation sites. Observations confirm these clusters are essential for initiating crystal growth in solutions like lysozyme and glucose isomerase.

Keywords:
crystallizationnucleationprotein-rich clusterstwo-step mechanism

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Crystallography
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Protein-dense liquid clusters are observed in protein solutions, with sizes ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers.
  • These clusters are hypothesized to be precursors for protein crystal nucleation via a two-step mechanism.
  • Direct experimental validation of this mechanism for protein crystal nucleation has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide direct experimental evidence for the role of protein-dense liquid clusters in protein crystal nucleation.
  • To investigate the dynamic relationship between cluster formation and subsequent crystal nucleation.
  • To elucidate the physical processes governing crystal nucleation within these clusters.

Main Methods:

  • Simultaneous characterization of protein-rich clusters and nucleating crystals using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confocal depolarized dynamic light scattering (cDDLS).
  • Observation of the evolution from liquid clusters to nucleated crystals using depolarized oblique illumination dark-field microscopy.
  • Analysis of cDDLS correlation functions to understand crystal motion.

Main Results:

  • Protein crystals were observed to form after a significant delay following the appearance of protein-rich clusters.
  • cDDLS data indicated nondiffusive motion of crystals, suggesting they are confined within clusters.
  • Microscopy revealed a clear progression from liquid clusters to crystal formation within these clusters, followed by free diffusion of grown crystals.

Conclusions:

  • Protein-rich clusters serve as critical locations for the nucleation of protein crystals.
  • The observed nondiffusive motion supports the hypothesis that crystals grow within the confines of these liquid clusters.
  • These findings validate the two-step nucleation mechanism for protein crystallization in the studied systems.