THE HETEROGENEITY IN A PROTEIN CRYSTAL REVEALED BY SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION

The heterogeneity in a single crystal of hydrogenase has been recogniz ed using synchrotron radiation. This heterogeneity has been estimated from five different positions of the crystal by analyzing the number o f significant reflections above background levels and the mosaicity of the diffraction spots. The crystal showed the highest degree of mosai city at one end of the crystal, the initial point of crystal growth. T he degree of mosaicity decreases along the c-axis from the initial poi nt of crystal growth to the opposite end of the crystal. Based on thes e observations, the relationship between heterogeneity and the process of crystal growth for hydrogenase is discussed.