A number of protein crystal recipes are available on the Rigaku web site:
http://www.rigaku.com/products/protein/recipes
Lysozyme is nice because it is so cheap, grows quickly, cryoprotectants in a straightforward way, and the unit cells are not large nor are the crystals fragile. One can get triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, and tetragonal crystals relatively quickly.
With hen egg white lysozyme if you are not up for sulfur-SAD phasing, then co-crystallizing or quick-soaking in iodide (say 100 mM) gives a very nice anomalous signal at just about any wavelength. That is, no need to worry about going to a so-called edge.
While there are many other easy-to-go crystals, I have found that none of them combine all the properties of hen egg white lysozyme has a good teaching tool.
Jim
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Can you all suggest some protein crystallization conditions (along with
cryo conditions) for some commercially available proteins? I'm looking
to get 6-8 different ones (and we'll just take them and see how it
goes). I wouldn't mind knowing unit cell parameters as well (just a
citation works, I can have them figure it out). I have about 7 weeks to
get everything grown and frozen and ready to go.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. It always amazes me how helpful
this group is. Thank you very much.
Dave
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