Issue 18, 2015

Flow-induced 2D protein crystallization: characterization of the coupled interfacial and bulk flows

Abstract

Two-dimensional crystallization of the protein streptavidin, crystallizing below a biotinylated lipid film spread on a quiescent air–water interface is a well studied phenomenon. More recently, 2D crystallization induced by a shearing interfacial flow has been observed at film surface pressures significantly lower than those required in a quiescent system. Here, we quantify the interfacial and bulk flow associated with 2D protein crystallization through numerical modeling of the flow along with a Newtonian surface model. Experiments were conducted over a wide range of conditions resulting in a state diagram delineating the flow strength required to induce crystals for various surface pressures. Through measurements of the velocity profile at the air–water interface, we found that even in the cases where crystals are formed, the macroscopic flow at the interface is well described by the Newtonian model. However, the results show that even in the absence of any protein in the system, the viscous response of the biotinylated lipid film is complicated and strongly dependent on the strength of the flow. This observation suggests that the insoluble lipid film plays a key role in flow-induced 2D protein crystallization.

Graphical abstract: Flow-induced 2D protein crystallization: characterization of the coupled interfacial and bulk flows

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Feb 2015
Accepted
16 Mar 2015
First published
16 Mar 2015

Soft Matter, 2015,11, 3618-3628

Author version available

Flow-induced 2D protein crystallization: characterization of the coupled interfacial and bulk flows

J. E. Young, D. Posada, J. M. Lopez and A. H. Hirsa, Soft Matter, 2015, 11, 3618 DOI: 10.1039/C5SM00429B

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