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A Novel and Innovative Biochemistry Laboratory: Crystal Growth of Hen Egg White Lysozyme

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Elizabeth Garrett , Audrey Wehr , Rebecca Hedge , David L. Roberts and Jacqueline R. Roberts

Department of Chemistry, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN 46135

J. Chem. Educ., 2002, 79 (3), p 366

DOI: 10.1021/ed079p366

Publication Date (Web): March 1, 2002

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Protein crystallization is the first and perhaps most important step in solving the structure of a protein via X-ray crystallography. However, very little time, if any, is spent working on this during laboratory experiments in undergraduate biochemistry courses. To remedy this, we developed a semester-long biochemistry laboratory experience that mimics a research setting centered around protein crystallization. Students are given purified lysozyme and a range of initial conditions. It is then their task to refine the crystal growth conditions by thinking critically about the problem. By understanding the theory of protein crystallization, students can manipulate whatever variable they feel will give the best final result. Throughout the semester the students set up numerous trials, learning from their previous results, in an effort to grow good single crystals of lysozyme. After good crystals are obtained, the students are asked to reproduce their results, a task that is required in a research setting. This experiment tests both the students' ability to think about a problem and their analytical techniques.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Biochemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Crystals / Crystallography

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