Crystallization and phase behaviour of protein solutions

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

Crystallization and phase behaviour of protein solutions

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 29th April 2002
  • Speaker: Shinpei Tanaka (University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Protein crystals are indispensable to analyse their molecular structure in atomic scale by X-ray crystallography. Producing protein crystals, however, is not easy and depends much on empirical trial-error methods, partly because of a lack of understanding of the phenomena. For example, protein solution exhibits various phase behaviour including crystallization, liquid-liquid phase separation, aggregation, gelation, etc, and the relation among them remains unclear. In this talk, I will present our recent studies on a protein (apoferritin) - polymer (polyethylene glycol) - salt (sodium chloride) mixture. The solutions show at least 4 phases such as uniform solution (gas phase), dense liquid phase, crystal, random aggregates. I will show the phase diagrams and the interaction parameters obtained by dynamic light scattering, and discuss the relation to the model system of colloid - polymer mixtures.

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

Find out more about Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars.