When working on tobacco Rubisco in Los Angeles, we got the best crystals
of the activated form of the protein after small earthquakes (4-5 on the
richter scale). However, as people in the lab. noticed, this earthquake
parameter is somewhat difficult to control. Handling the linbro plates
sometimes caused massive nucleation: I would look at a plate with only
clear drops and by the time I would put the plate back in the incubator
there was so much nucleation that the plate was of no use any more. When
the nucleation of your protein is sensitive to vibrations, I would worry
more about handling than about the fire alarm.
Best,
Herman
________________________________
From: CCP4 bulletin board [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Jacqueline Vitali
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 3:14 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ccp4bb] question on the effect of a fire alarm on
crystallization
Dear all,
Does anyone know the effect of a fire alarm placed in the same
room where one grows crystals?
(1) On trays placed inside styrofoam boxes
(2) On trays placed inside an incubator which has not been
tested as vibration free.
Thank you.
Jackie Vitali
