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Microfluidic Generation of Lipidic Mesophases for Membrane Protein Crystallization

Journal Article · · Crystal Growth and Design
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cg900289d· OSTI ID:1020001
We report on a microfluidic method for the formation of aqueous/lipid mesophases to enable screening of suitable crystallization conditions of membrane proteins from a membrane-like phase in sub-20 nL volumes. This integrated microfluidic chip and the employed mixing strategy address the specific challenges associated with the mixing of fluids of highly different viscosities (here a factor of 30) as well as the non-Newtonian character of the resulting mesophases. The chip requires less than 20 nL of material per condition screened, whereas typically on the order of 10 {micro}L or more is needed for a batch preparation in the present screening methods. We validated our approach with the successful crystallization of the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE - OFFICE OF SCIENCE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1020001
Report Number(s):
BNL--95847-2011-JA
Journal Information:
Crystal Growth and Design, Journal Name: Crystal Growth and Design Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 9; ISSN 1528-7483
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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