A gradual desiccation method for improving the efficiency of protein crystallization screening

Qin Qin Lu, Xu Zhuo Xie, Rui Qing Chen, Zi Qing Wu, Qing Di Cheng, Peng Shang, Da Chuan Yin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In vapor diffusion protein crystallization screening, it has been reported that replacing the reservoir solution with desiccant can increase the crystallization success rate. Therefore, the desiccation method is a potentially powerful method in practical protein crystallization screening. However, this method is difficult to apply broadly because the optimal amount of desiccant for a specific screening task is unknown. Utilizing an unsuitable amount of desiccant can result in even worse screening results than would be obtained from the traditional vapor diffusion method. Here, it is shown that by employing a modified strategy, named the gradual desiccation method, the problem can be solved without knowing the optimal amount of desiccant, and the crystallization success rate can be further increased compared with the one-time desiccation method.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)758-765
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Applied Crystallography
Volume45
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2012

Keywords

  • desiccants
  • gradual desiccation method
  • protein crystallization
  • screening strategies
  • vapor diffusion

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