NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : Dynamically Controlled Temperature-Induced Protein Crystallization System.

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

This proposal addresses the development of a new and innovative temperature-induced protein crystal growth system that will provide precise control of pre- and postnucleation growth via a noninvasive, diagnostic laser light scattering unit. Subtopic 17.04 (Biomedical) "Innovative Techniques for Dynamic Control of Protein Crystal Growth" is addressed in that a new and innovative approach will be developed to control protein crystal growth in real time (dynamically). The system will have important biological and medical relevance in that it will provide crystals for new protein structure eterminations and drug design. The overall project objectives are to develop a commercial crystallization system that enhances scientist's ability to produce high quality protein crystals. The specific objectives for the Phase I effort are: 1)Design a 10 chamber temperature-induced crystallization system that allows simultaneous and dynamic thernal control of any individual cell. 2)Use a "temperature-block" (T-block) to acquire temperature dependent solubility information for new proteins to demonstrate the widespread applicability of the proposed crystallization system. We expect to demonstrate that a significant percentage of proteins show a solubility dependence with variations in temperature, and therefore, can be crystallized with the proposed system. This system will provide a powerful new approach for small- and macro-molecule crystal growth, benefiting NASA's long history of fundamental and commercial objectives in crystal growth.

The proposed innovative crystal growth system will be of tremendous value to crystallography, chemistry and pharmaceutical laboratories worldwide. The combined market for these scientific disciplines is substantial and the proposed device will play a vital role in their future. Protein crystal growth is generally recognized as the major bottleneck in crystallographic structural investigations, which are of paramount importance in elucidating fundamental structure/function relationships and in structure-based drug design.

Gayle K. Christopher, Ph.D.,
Diversified Scientific, Inc.
1075 13th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205

Diversified Scientific, Inc.
1075 13th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205