Microfluidic Generation of Lipidic Mesophases for Membrane Protein Crystallization
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 Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE - OFFICE OF SCIENCE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 1020001
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-95847-2011-JA; TRN: US201115%%637
- Journal Information:
- Crystal Growth and Design, Vol. 9, Issue 6; ISSN 1528-7483
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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