Are Nucleation Kinetics of Protein Crystals Similar to Those of Liquid Droplets

摘要: We have studied the nucleation of crystals a model protein from aqueous solutions using novel technique that allows direct determinations homogeneous rates. At constant temperature 12.6 °C we varied thermodynamic supersaturation by changing concentrations and precipitant. found broken dependence rate on is beyond predictions classical theory. The theorem us to relate this discrete changes size crystal nuclei with increasing as (10 or 11) → (4 5) (1 2). Furthermore, observe existence second liquid phase at high strongly affects kinetics:  (i) Crystal rates are lower than expected in region liquid−liquid demixing. (ii) In immediate proximity region, vary factors up 2 identical experiments. Since for regi...