Dear Crystallographers,
I have exactly two spherulite crystals of a protein-peptide complex which
have a fluorescently-labelled peptide in them, and are therefore nicely
colorful in both the light and fluorescence microscopes, making it easier to
know that at least the peptide is in the crystal. However, they are not
reproducible. Having gone through the usual list of possible variations
which might account for the irreproducibility, I have hit the bottom of the
barrel. I was thinking that since the original crystals grew in utter
darkness, undisturbed for two weeks while I was away, they were able to
nucleate. Is it possible that light exciting the fluorophores is detrimental
to crystallization? Or perhaps the complete uniformity of temperature? Even
microseeding from one of the spherulites produced nothing (except in the
original well.) Any brilliant suggestions welcome...
Jacob Keller
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Jacob Pearson Keller
Northwestern University
Medical Scientist Training Program
Dallos Laboratory
F. Searle 1-240
2240 Campus Drive
Evanston IL 60208
lab: 847.491.2438
cel: 773.608.9185
email: [email protected]
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