DETERMINATION OF INDUCTION TIME OF LYSOZYME CRYSTALS BY LASER DIFFRACTION

Hen egg-white lysozyme has been studied as a model system to investigate the problems of protein crystallization. An analysis is made of the induction time in new phase formation. This is the time that elapses between the achievement of supersaturation or undercooling and the appearance of a solid phase. The laser diffraction technique provides a means of detection of the appearance of nuclei by following the evolution of obscuration. The results show that the induction period increases exponentially with decreasing supersaturation of the solution. A general expression for the induction time, which is valid for any number of nuclei appearing and growing in the parent phase, is applied.