Crystallizing proteins is a daunting task. Last year Alexander McPherson of the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues proposed a novel strategy to develop crystals quickly by including high concentrations of small molecules to the so-called mother liquors. They analyzed data on the crystallization of 81 different protein cultured in the presence of small molecules that could serve as ligands and potentially promote lattice formation. Recently they examined nine of those crystal structures and looked for evidence that the small molecules indeed aided crystallization.
Small molecule cocktails helped in many cases. In two particular instances, RNase A and bovine trypsin, researchers saw that the bioactive compounds in the reagent mixtures were nearly wholly responsible for creating the unique crystal forms that had never before been observed.
?This work confirms the validity of a new crystallization strategy.? writes Faculty of 1000 member Fred Dyda of the National Institutes of Health. ?The ...
