CRYSTALLIZATION OF WHEAT GAMMA-GLIADIN UNDER A MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT USING SPACE STATION MIR

Single crystals of wheat gamma-gliadin, which have not been obtained i n the ground crystallization experiments, appeared from a PEG8000 solu tion of 30mM aluminum lactate, pH 3.4, by a hanging-drop method under a microgravity environment aboard space station MIR. The experimental period was 58 days at 20.3 +/- 1.5 degrees C, and crystals grew in a r ectangular shape. They had a biaxial crystal possibility from the obse rvation of polarizing microscopy.