Video observation of protein crystal growth in the advanced protein crystallization facility aboard the space shuttle mission STS-95

Crystals of polypeptide with sequence (Pro-Pro-Gly)(10) were grown in the A dvanced Protein Crystallization Facility during the US Space Shuttle STS-95 Mission. Well diffracting crystals were obtained by dialysis; they provide d the highest resolution X-ray data so far collected for a collagen-like tr iple helical structure (Berisio et al., Acta Crystallogr. D 56 (2000) 55). During the Mission the crystal growth was monitored by a CCD video camera. The image analysis provided information on spatial distribution of crystals , their movements and their growth. The spatial distribution was non-unifor m inside the reactors. Limited motions were observed. The linear growth rat e indicates that, in some cases, the growth did not cease in the microgravi ty environment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.