Ur. Alvarado et al., Crystallization of a human Bence-Jones protein in microgravity using vapordiffusion in capillaries, J CRYST GR, 223(3), 2001, pp. 407-414
A simple evaporative method in sealed capillaries was used to produce X-ray
diffraction quality crystals of a monoclonal human Bence-Jones protein (Se
a) in microgravity and at unit gravity. The lambda isotypic Bence-Jones pro
tein was purified from the urine of a multiple myeloma patient using ammoni
um sulfate precipitation, dialysis and cation exchange, followed by gel fil
tration. Crystals were produced in glass capillaries where water evaporated
from the protein solution was absorbed by one or two suitable absorbents.
A crystal grown during the 9-day Space Shuttle STS-95 flight measured 8 x 1
.6 x 1 mm. It was subjected to X-ray diffraction and was found to be orthor
hombic (P2(1)2(1)2(1)). With unit-cell dimensions of 48.9, 85.2 and 114.0 A
ngstrom. X-ray data were collected at room temperature and were 98.3% compl
ete to 2.3 Angstrom resolution. Crystals of the same Bence-Jones protein me
asuring 1.2-2 mm in length were grown in ground-based controls using a high
evaporation rate for the first 12 h, followed by a slower evaporation rate
for the remainder of the 19-day growth period, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B
.V, All rights reserved.