Published December 2002 | Version v1
Journal article

Surface relaxation in protein crystals

  • 1. Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)
  • 2. Universities Space Research Association, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama 35875 (United States)

Description

Surface x-ray diffraction measurements were performed on (111) growth faces of crystals of the cellular iron-storage protein, horse spleen ferritin. Crystal truncation rods (CTR) were measured. A fit of the measured profile of the CTR revealed a surface roughness of 48±4.5 A and a top layer spacing contraction of 3.9±1.5%. In addition to the peak from the CTR, the rocking curves of the crystals displayed unexpected extra peaks. Multiple scattering is demonstrated to account for them. Future applications of the method could allow the exploration of hydration effects on the growth of protein crystals

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
Journal Volume
66
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 061914-061914.7
ISSN
1063-651X
CODEN
PLEEE8

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2002 The American Physical Society