biostudies-literatureFeeling-Taylor ARNHLBI NIH HHS2621-9https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC1304680biostudies-literatureUnknown87(4)Crystallization of the mutated hemoglobin, HbC, which occurs inside red blood cells of patients expressing betaC-globin and exhibiting the homozygous CC and the heterozygous SC (in which two mutant beta-globins, S and C, are expressed) diseases, is a convenient model for processes underlying numerous condensation diseases. As a first step, we investigated the molecular-level mechanisms of crystallization of this protein from high-concentration phosphate buffer in its stable carbomonoxy form using high-resolution atomic force microscopy. We found that in conditions of equilibrium with the solution, the crystals' surface reconstructs into four-molecule-wide strands along the crystallographic a (or b) axis. However, the crystals do not grow by the alignment of such preformed strands. We foundBiophysical journalCrystallization mechanisms of hemoglobin C in the R state.PMC13046801F31HL09564-01HL58038HL3865F31 HL009564Nagel RLVekilov PGFeeling-Taylor ARPetsev DNHirsch REYau STfalseCrystallization mechanisms of hemoglobin C in the R state.Crystallization of the mutated hemoglobin, HbC, which occurs inside red blood cells of patients expressing betaC-globin and exhibiting the homozygous CC and the heterozygous SC (in which two mutant beta-globins, S and C, are expressed) diseases, is a convenient model for processes underlying numerous condensation diseases. As a first step, we investigated the molecular-level mechanisms of crystallization of this protein from high-concentration phosphate buffer in its stable carbomonoxy form using high-resolution atomic force microscopy. We found that in conditions of equilibrium with the solution, the crystals' surface reconstructs into four-molecule-wide strands along the crystallographic a (or b) axis. However, the crystals do not grow by the alignment of such preformed strands. We found2004-01-01T00:00:00Z2004 Oct2025-04-18T12:15:01.141Z2019-03-26T23:52:10ZS-EPMC13046801545445610.1529/biophysj.104.039743