Correction of the equilibrium temperature caused by slight evaporation of water in protein crystal growth cells during long-term space experiments at International Space Station

The Review of Scientific Instruments
Takahisa FujiwaraHitoshi Miura

Abstract

The normal growth rates of the {110} faces of tetragonal hen egg-white lysozyme crystals, R, were measured as a function of the supersaturation σ parameter using a reflection type interferometer under μG at the International Space Station (NanoStep Project). Since water slightly evaporated from in situ observation cells during a long-term space station experiment for several months, equilibrium temperature T(e) changed, and the actual σ, however, significantly increased mainly due to the increase in salt concentration C(s). To correct σ, the actual C(s) and protein concentration C(p), which correctly represent the measured T(e) value in space, were first calculated. Second, a new solubility curve with the corrected C(s) was plotted. Finally, the revised σ was obtained from the new solubility curve. This correction method successfully revealed that the 2.8% water was evaporated from the solution, leading to 2.8% increase in the C(s) and C(p) of the solution.

References

Feb 24, 2001·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·M AbecassisUNKNOWN Live Organ Donor Consensus Group
Nov 5, 2013·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Izumi YoshizakiMasaru Tachibana

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Citations

Apr 3, 2016·The Review of Scientific Instruments·T YamazakiY Kimura

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