Strong and specific effects of cations on lysozyme chloride solubility

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2002 Oct;58(Pt 10 Pt 1):1582-7. doi: 10.1107/s0907444902014518. Epub 2002 Sep 26.

Abstract

The influence of salt nature and concentration on tetragonal lysozyme chloride crystal solubility is presented for a set of mono-, di- and trivalent cations (Cs(+), Rb(+), Mn(2+), Co(2+) and Yb(3+)). The results show that cations have as strong an effect on protein solubility as anions and that they present their own particular effects as co-ions. Indeed, after decreasing at low ionic strength, lysozyme solubility increases with high concentration of polyvalent cations, probably due to co-ion binding and therefore the concomitant increase of the net charge of the protein-salt complex. These new results are discussed in order to progress in the understanding of the crystallisation process at the atomic level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cations
  • Chlorides / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Solubility
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Cations
  • Chlorides
  • Muramidase