Effect of a strong magnetic field on protein crystal growth

Nobuko I. Wakayama; L. B. Wang; M. Ataka

doi:10.1117/12.450135

25 October 2002 Effect of a strong magnetic field on protein crystal growth

Nobuko I. Wakayama, L. B. Wang, M. Ataka

Proceedings Volume 4813, Crystal Materials for Nonlinear Optical Devices and Microgravity Science; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450135
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2002, Seattle, WA, United States

Abstract

Recently, a superconducting magnet has been used to obtain better quality protein crystals. It is possible to reduce effective gravity and damp natural convection by applying a vertical magnetic field gradient to cause an upward magnetization (Kelvin) force. When protein crystals (snake muscle fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase) were formed in 0.7-0.8 g, their resolutions of X-ray diffraction were improved by 30% compared with those formed outside the magnet. On the other hand, in a uniform field of 10 T which did not cause an upward force, the improvement of the quality of orthorhombic lysozyme crystals was found. In this paper, besides through the upward magnetization force, we studied how a strong magnetic field damps natural convection and influences the crystal quality. First, we discussed the damping of natural convection by Lorentz force, and concluded it almost negligible because Hartman number is about 3.5 for the typical protein crystal formation experiments. Second, we studied the magnetic effect on the viscosity of protein solutions and found that the viscosity increases under 10 T when the solution contains suspended small crystals. Numerical simulations showed that the viscosity increase causes the damping of natural convection during protein crystal growth. Furthermore, the effect of magnetic orientation of suspended crystals on the crystal quality was also discussed. These types of magnetic effect will occur both in gradient and uniform magnetic fields. If we use these kinds of magnetic effects efficiently, it will be possible to improve the crystal quality.

Citation Download Citation

Nobuko I. Wakayama, L. B. Wang, and M. Ataka "Effect of a strong magnetic field on protein crystal growth", Proc. SPIE 4813, Crystal Materials for Nonlinear Optical Devices and Microgravity Science, (25 October 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.450135

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available