Malvern Zetasizer Nano increases protein crystallization success rates at AliX

Researchers at structural genomics company AliX (Illkirch, France), which focuses on drug discovery in the field of nuclear hormone receptors, are using the Malvern Zetasizer Nano to improve their protein crystallization success rates.

At AliX high throughput X-ray crystallography is used to determine the 3-dimensional structures of proteins in association with small molecules. The crystallization step is often the bottleneck in such procedures because the production of protein crystals for analysis requires a well-purified and stable protein solution as a starting point. Proteins in solution can be present as monomers, oligomers and aggregates and a key requirement for successful crystallization is that the protein should be in a consistent form. Particle size analysis using the Zetasizer Nano allows identification of the ideal monodisperse solutions needed and enables researchers to optimize buffer formulations for improved crystallization.

The Zetasizer Nano measures particles in the size range 0.6 nm to 6μm, making it ideal for this application. It is the first commercial instrument to include the hardware and software for combined dynamic, static, and electrophoretic light scattering measurements, providing the researcher with access to a wide range of sample properties, including size, molecular weight, and zeta potential. The system has been specifically designed to meet the low concentration and sample volume requirements typically associated with pharmaceutical and biomolecular applications.