Protein crystal growth rates are face-specifically modified by structurally related contaminants

Growth rates of turkey egg-white lysozyme (TEWL) crystal faces have been measured in uncontaminated solutions as well as in solutions contaminated by the homologous hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL). Comparison of growth rates from uncontaminated and contaminated solutions shows that the growth rate of the {112} faces drops significantly in the presence of the contaminant, whereas the growth rate of the {110} faces does not change. This demonstrates that HEWL acts specifically on the growth process of the {112} faces.