Protein crystal growth in low gravity

A study is presented of the crystallization of isocitrate lyase (ICL) and the influence of the lack of thermal solutal convection in microgravity on the morphology of ICL crystals is discussed. The latest results of studies with thermonucleation are presented. These include the nucleation of a protein with retrograde solubility and an unknown solubility curve. A new design for a more microgravity compatible thermonuclear is presented

Protein crystal growth in low gravity

The solubility and growth of the protein canavalin, and the application of the schlieren technique to study fluid flow in protein crystal growth systems were investigated. These studies have resulted in the proposal of a model to describe protein crystal growth and the preliminary plans for a long-term space flight experiment. Canavalin, which may be crystallized from a basic solution by the addition of hydrogen (H+) ions, was shown to have normal solubility characteristics over the range of temperatures (5 to 25 C) and pH (5 to 7.5) studies. The solubility data combined with growth rate data gathered from the seeded growth of canavalin crystals indicated that the growth rate limiting step is a screw dislocation mechanism. A schlieren apparatus was constructed and flow patterns were observed in Rochelle salt (sodium potassium tartrate), lysozyme, and canavalin. The critical parameters were identified as the change in density with concentration (dp/dc) and the change in index of refraction with concentration (dn/dc). Some of these values were measured for the materials listed. The data for lyrozyme showed non-linearities in plots of optical properties and density vs. concentration. In conjunction with with W. A. Tiller, a model based on colloid stability theory was proposed to describe protein crystallization. The model was used to explain observations made by ourselves and others. The results of this research has lead to the development for a preliminary design for a long-term, low-g experiment. The proposed apparatus is univeral and capable of operation under microprocessor control

Materials for high-temperature thermoelectric conversion

High boron materials of high efficiency for thermoelectric power generation and capable of prolonged operation at temperatures over 1200 C are discussed. Background theoretical studies indicated that the low carrier mobility of materials with beta boron and related structures is probably associated with the high density of traps. Experimental work was mainly concerned with silicon borides in view of promising data from European laboratories. A systematic study using structure determination and lattice constant measurements failed to confirm the existence of an SiBn phase. Only SiB6 and a solid solution of silicon in beta boron with a maximum solid solubility of 5.5-6 at % at 1650 C were found

Far infrared luminosity functions of normal galaxies

Researchers constructed a volume limited sample of 443 optically selected nearby galaxies from the Zwicky catalog to study far infrared luminosity functions. Schechter function fits and integrated luminosity densities are calculated. Comparing the resulting infrared spectrum with the infrared spectrum for interstellar matter in the solar neighborhood, researchers find most of the infrared emission is due to dust heated by the interstellar radiation field, except at 60 micron emission where star forming regions contribute significantly