Protein crystallization - is it rocket science?

Fueled by initial space shuttle results, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been supporting fundamental studies of macromole cular crystal growth since 1985. The majority of this research is directed at understanding the relationship between experimental variables and import ant crystal characteristics. The program has resulted in new methods and te chnology that will benefit the crystallography community's effort to meet t he ever-increasing demand for protein structural information. Microgravity crystallization results indicate a potential impact on structural biology's more challenging problems, as soon as long-duration experiments can be per formed on the International Space Station.