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Mechanism of Ionic Strength Dependence of Crystal Growth Rates in a Subtilsin Variant
Published
Author(s)
David T. Gallagher, Q Pan, G L. Gilliland
Abstract
An orthorhombic crystal form of subtilisin exhibits a systematic variation in growth rates of its three unique faces, resulting in pronounced morphology variations, depending on ionic strength. Several common salts cause a concentration-dependent change in the crystal habit from thin plates to isometric bars. The effect is analyzed in terms of the four crystal contacts in the 1.75 A resolution X-ray structure. Morphological growth fronts and the rate-limiting attachment step for growth of each face are considered, and it is concluded that ion screening of a carboxyl-carboxyl interaction in one crystal contact plays a key role in the salt-morphology effect.
Citation
Journal of Crystal Growth
Volume
193
Issue
4
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
crystal structure, ion screening, lattice packing, protein crystal growth, subtilisin
Gallagher, D.
, Pan, Q.
and Gilliland, G.
(1998),
Mechanism of Ionic Strength Dependence of Crystal Growth Rates in a Subtilsin Variant, Journal of Crystal Growth
(Accessed October 15, 2025)