Binding and two-dimensional crystallization of streptavidin at the air/water interface via engineered Cu-IDA chelator lipids

Metal-chelating iminodiacetate (IDA) lipid monolayers at the air/water inte rface have been engineered to promote the 2D crystallization of proteins wh ich display solvent-accessible histidines. The physical properties of IDA l ipid monolayers have been specifically tailored to allow the binding and 2D assembly of added proteins. Fluorescently labeled IDA lipid monolayers all ow us to monitor the formation of the protein crystals optically. Here we r eview our efforts in the interfacial crystallization of streptavidin as mon itored using fluorescence, Brewster angle and transmission electron microsc opy and discuss future challenges in this area. (c) 1999 Elsevier Science S .A. All rights reserved.