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What is a protein crystal? Can we apply the terminology of classical industrial crystallization to them?
Author(s) -
Ulrich Joachim,
Pietzsch Markus
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.201500057
Subject(s) - protein crystallization , crystallization , terminology , crystal (programming language) , crystallography , chemistry , materials science , computer science , organic chemistry , philosophy , linguistics , programming language
The nature of protein crystals is discussed. Since protein crystals contain not only proteins but also other substances the usage of conventional terms (of industrial crystallization) of naming such crystals is questioned. The proof that there are other components than the protein itself in a protein crystal is given. It is suggested to use a procedure like in biotechnology to guarantee the production of the right protein crystals according to the PAT concept. It is suggested not to use other established names like “hydrates”, “solvates”, “but crystals for proteins since the definitions do not fit the nature of the protein crystals.