Protein Crystallization under the Presence of an Electric Field

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, the use of electrically-assisted protein crystallization methods by using direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC), has revealed that, on average, crystals grow better in crystal quality and oriented to the cathode (when the protein molecule was positively charged), compared to the crystals grown on the anode (which is a negatively charged protein molecule). These electro-assisted crystallization techniques also enable the growth of protein crystals, as a function of temperature, under the influence of DC or AC electric fields. It has also permitted the isolation of protein polymorphs, as published elsewhere. According to recent publications, AC current could affect not only the number of crystals, but also their size, depending on its frequency. Up to now, the trend in crystal growth for protein models studied is as follows: The higher the AC the higher the number of crystals; in the near future this can be applicable to the free electron lasers (XFEL) experiments for solving complicated protein structures using the fourth generation of synchrotrons all over the world. There have been a significant number of publications focused on this topic recently, which is why the thematic issue in “Protein Crystallization under the Presence of an Electric Field” for the Crystals journal (ISSN 2073-4352, http://www.mdpi.com/journal/crystals) will be published soon. We encourage all specialists and experts on this topic to submit original contributions to this journal, and to the thematic issue for consideration and publication.

Prof. Dr. Abel Moreno
Guest Editor

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