Self-assembly of protein at aqueous solution surface in correlation to protein crystallization

Abstract

The assembly of lysozyme (hen egg white) at the surface of aqueous solution follows the same behaviors as amphiphilic molecules. The critical assembly concentration appearing in the protein solutions is found to coincide with the equilibrium concentration of protein crystals under given conditions. The crystallization of protein regarded as a typical case of protein self-assembly in three dimensions has been discussed. The result reveals also the correlation between protein crystallization and the two-dimensional self-assembly at the surface of substrates. It follows that the protein crystallization condition can be determined without protein crystals. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.