Is lysozyme really the ideal model protein?

A series of potential heterogeneous nucleants were added to metastable solu tions of lysozyme and of four other model proteins, as well as to a few tar get proteins. Some of the substances markedly affected the nucleation of ly sozyme crystals, but did not influence the other proteins. The results for other proteins were disappointing because these nucleants have not turned o ut to be the universal nucleants we were hoping for. However, having worked so well for lysozyme, they may yet prove useful in individual cases. (C) 2 001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.