Crystals of phosphorylase a grown in the presence of glucose...

Key Concepts

Protein Crystallization

Protein crystallization is the process of forming a well-ordered, repeating array of protein molecules, which is essential for X-ray crystallography studies. The formation and stability of these crystals depend on the uniformity of the protein structure, and any alterations in the protein’s conformation can disrupt the crystal lattice.

Enzyme Conformational Changes

Enzymes are dynamic molecules that can change shape upon binding to substrates, which is known as a conformational change or induced fit. This change can alter the enzyme’s overall structure, impacting how the molecules are arranged within a crystal.

Crystal Lattice Strain

When a substrate binds to an enzyme within a crystal, the induced conformational change may not be compatible with the rigid, preformed crystal lattice. This incompatibility creates mechanical strain in the ordered array, often leading to the disruption or shattering of the crystal structure.

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