What are the experimental approaches used to determine protein structure?
What is X-Ray Crystallography?
A method used to study the structure of molecules by analyzing the scattering of X-rays by the electrons in a crystal.
What does X-ray imaging reveal in X-Ray Crystallography?
Electron density
What is the importance of the resolution of the X-ray experiment in X-Ray Crystallography?
depends on the resolution
Why are crystals required in X-Ray Crystallography?
The intensity of x-ray scattering by a single molecule is unimaginably weak,
Crystals of biological samples are required to align ~1015 molecules so they scatter x-rays in phase (constructive interference).
What limits the resolution of the diffraction measurements in X-Ray Crystallography?
Imperfections (disorder) in crystals of biological samples
Electron Density
The time-averaged distibution of electrons in a molecule
What are the steps involved in protein expression and purification?
How does protein solubility depend on concentration?
At high concentrations, protein-protein interactions can lead to the formation of aggregates, reducing solubility.
What factors affect protein solubility?
How does pH affect protein solubility?
As pH changes, certain groups go from:
neutral to charged
or
charged to neutral
This alters surface charges and interactions with water
How do Salts affect protein solubility?
Salting in - increases protein solubility
Salting out - decreases protein solubility
Affects protein surface charges & interact with water.
How do Polar solvents affect protein solubility?
precipitating agents
eg. polyetheleneglycol (PEG) soaks up water
How does temperature affect protein solubility?
Thermodynamic factors influence solubility
What are the two methods of protein crystallization?
What are the two most commonly used vapour diffusion methods for protein crystallization?
What does the droplet of protein solution contain in both the methods of protein crystallization?
Purified protein
Buffer and precipitant
being allowed to equilibrate with a larger reservoir containing similar buffers and precipitants in higher concentrations
How do the hanging drop and sitting drop methods of protein crystallization work?
What is the Dialysis method of protein crystallization?
What are crystallization robots and high throughput crystallization methods?
What can exposure to X-rays do to protein crystals?
How can the lifetime of a crystal be extended?
At low temperatures
near 100 K (-173⁰C).
How should protein crystals be frozen, and what are the potential drawbacks?
What is a cryo-protectant?
Added before freezing to help protect protein
glycerol or PEG400