微重力下天花粉蛋白晶体生长初探

报导了国内首次在微重力下进行蛋白质晶体生长的试验.与地面对照实验所生长的晶体相比较,在空间生长的多数天花粉蛋白晶体具有较完整的外形,初步展示了微重力条件对蛋白质晶体生长所具有的优越性.

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF TRICHOSANTHIN CRYSTAL GROWTH UNDER MICROGRAVITY

Trichosanthin, a plant protein, has been chosen as the protein to be crystallized in space by vapour diffusion method. The experiment under microgravity was done using the tube crystallization equipment designed by the company INTOSPACE in west Germany and carried by Chinese re-entry capsule, After the Space mission was terminated, the samples were examined and some preliminary remarks could be made as follows: (1). In comparison with the crystals growm on earth, the crystals grownin space are rather perfect and less aggregate. (2). The crystals grown in space might be more stable than those grown onearth. The crystals grown on earth seem to be dissolved more easyly. (3). A preliminary diffraction experiment has shown that the crystals obtainedin space can give reflections at 3.5A resolution, although the size is rather small.