Protein crystallization: Eluding the bottleneck of X-ray crystallography.

ABSTRACT: To date, X-ray crystallography remains the gold standard for the determination of macromolecular structure and protein substrate interactions. However, the unpredictability of obtaining a protein crystal remains the limiting factor and continues to be the bottleneck in determining protein structures. A vast amount of research has been conducted in order to circumvent this issue with limited success. No single method has proven to guarantee the crystallization of all proteins. However, techniques using antibody fragments, lipids, carrier proteins, and even mutagenesis of crystal contacts have been implemented to increase the odds of obtaining a crystal with adequate diffraction. In addition, we review a new technique using the scaffolding ability of PDZ domains to facilitate nucleation and

SUBMITTER: Holcomb J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5645037 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature