Experimental evidence for the stability of the depletion zone around a growing protein crystal under microgravity

Experimental evidence is presented for the first time for the development a nd time evolution of concentration-depletion zones around protein crystals growing in microgravity and gelled on-ground experiments. Crystal motion an d buoyancy-driven fluid movements as a result of residual accelerations and g-jitters are demonstrated to have an adverse effect on the stability of t hese depletion zones, provoking the breakdown of their radial symmetry. The se findings may explain some of the controversial results reported on the q uality of single crystals grown under microgravity in previous space missio ns.