CCD VIDEO OBSERVATION OF MICROGRAVITY CRYSTALLIZATION - APOCRUSTACYANIN C-1

Apocrustacyanin C-1 has been crystallized in the vapour-diffusion appa ratus of ESA's Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (APCF) on-boa rd the NASA space shuttle STS-65 International Microgravity Laboratory -2 (IML-2) mission. Crystal growth was monitored by black and white CC D observation at time intervals throughout the experiment. The resulti ng crystals displayed a motion within the hanging drop that is attribu ted to Marangoni convection effects. The images also show a ''halo'' e ffect around the growing crystals which can be attributed to the prese nce of depletion zones i.e. solution regions which are depleted of thi s coloured protein.