Effects of microgravity on the crystal quality of a collagen-like polypeptide

(Pro-Pro-Gly)(10) is one of the most widely studied collagen polypeptide models. Microgravity crystal growth of (Pro-Pro-Gly)(10) was carried out in the Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-95 mission. Crystals were successfully grown in all experiments, using both dialysis and free-interface diffusion methods. The quality of the microgravity-grown crystals and of ground-grown counterparts was assessed by X-ray synchrotron diffraction. Microgravity-grown crystals exhibited a significant improvement in terms of dimensions and resolution limit. As previously reported, crystals were orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) However, the diffraction pattern showed weak reflections, never previously measured, that were consistent with new unit-cell parameters a = 26.9, b = 26.4, c = 182.5 Angstrom. This allowed the derivation of a new model for the arrangement of the triple-helical molecules in the crystals.