ヘムタンパク質チトクロームc'の結晶成長 : 微小重力実験へのアプローチ(<小特集>微小重力環境を利用した結晶成長)

概要

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The three dimensional structure of protein molecule is essential for the comprehension of numerous life phenomena and the industrial utilization of biological systems. It is important to determine the three dimensional structure of biological macromolecule components by certain techniques, X-ray crystallographic structure analysis, neutron crystallographic structure analysis or NMR. Both X-ray and neutron crystallographic techniques require high-quality crystals, which can provide well defined diffractions for precise structure analysis. Microgravity is expected to give a well condition for protein crystal growth. Physical approach to for the protein crystal growth under the microgravity is strongly believed to be important for the systematic crystal design. Cytochromes c are a class of c-type cytochrome, which have been found in several photosynthetic bacteria and denitrifying bacteria. Cytochrome c' from denytrifying bacteria is a positively charged protein containing a heme prothetic group covalently bound to the protein backborn through two thioether linkages as well as cytochrome c. In the space experiment STS-107, cytochrome c' from Achromobacter xylosoxifdans NCIMB 11015 will be used for the crystal growth experiments based on the crystal growth mechanisms.
日本結晶成長学会の論文
2002-10-05