Progress in Macromolecular Crystallogenesis - Crystal Growth & Design

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CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2007 VOL. 7, NO. 11 2123

Editorial Progress in Macromolecular Crystallogenesis In this special issue (Vol 7, issue 11) of Crystal Growth & Design, we have the pleasure of presenting 24 peer-reviewed papers from the 11th International Conference on the Crystallization of Biological Macromolecules (ICCBM11), held in Québec City, Canada, August 16–21, 2006 (preconference crystallization workshop August 13–16, 2006). X-ray crystallography is responsible for the overwhelming majority of the more than 40 000 structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). These three-dimensional structures give profound insights into the structure–function relationship of macromolecules, and this knowledge facilitates the rational design of inhibitors. Crystallogenesis is a prerequisite for structure determination by X-ray crystallography, and physico-chemistry is the underlying basis of macromolecular crystallogenesis. Therefore, we begin this special issue by addressing the physico-chemistry of protein crystal growth (PCG). Crystallogenesis, macromolecular interactions, and inhibitor design are inseparable aspects related to macromolecular structure and function, where one aspect facilitates the others, and vice versa. This demonstrates the strong physico-chemistry implication of our domain. Macromolecules do not exist or function on their own—for the crystallization of some proteins resistant to crystal formation, a macromolecular complex may be necessary. Target proteins can be cocrystallized with proteins of known structures, such as FAB (Fragment antigen binding), scFvs (single-chain Fragment variable) and ankirin-repeat proteins to produce complexes more amenable to crystallization. Biophysical, bioinformatic, and NMR approaches can be used to find conditions that promote macromolecular complex formation. Studies on the decoupling of nucleation from crystal growth contribute to our understanding of PCG, as do studies on crystal growth in microgravity. From the conference session “New Ideas and Approaches,” we received papers on high-throughput methodology such as automation, screening, robotics, miniaturization, and databases. This focus is in accordance with the stated goals of the ICCBM11 to promote the development of high-throughput methods for tackling the bottleneck of crystallization. As highthroughput methods become increasingly accessible, strategies to carry out structural genomic studies in routine laboratories have been discussed.

Also in this selection of papers, the unique area of the crystallization of membrane proteins, for example, glycoproteins, along with rapid and new protein expression strategies are covered. Other papers report the developments on the use of crystals as solid-state electron transfer devices. We also present a summary of the first ten ICCBM meetings. This historical overview, written by two experienced scientists of crystallogenesis who participated in all of the last conferences, covers two decades of developments in the field. A short summary of ICCBM11 is also provided. We are confident that our colleagues will continue to advance the research and progress in the field. Furthermore, we hope that this special issue of Crystal Growth & Design contributes to that effort. Finally, we express our gratitude to the sponsors, the CHUL Research Center and Laval University, as well as Canadian Institute of Genetics, Institute of Cancer Research, organizers of the conference and preconference, Dr. J. M. Garcia-Ruiz and J. R. Mesters. We acknowledge the authors of the papers, the referees, editors of Crystal Growth & Design and the publishers of this issue at the American Chemical Society. We also extend our thanks to Ms. W.-J. Yang and Dr. A. Azzi for their help in the editorial preparation of this special issue. Sheng-Xiang Lin ICCBM11 Conference Chair and Guest Editor, CHUL Research Center and LaVal UniVersity, Québec, Canada; Visiting Scientist, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Shanghai, China Richard Giegé ICCBM11 International AdVisory Committee Member and Guest Editor, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS and UniVersité Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France Terese Bergfors ICCBM11 International AdVisory Committee Member and Guest Editor, Uppsala UniVersity, Uppsala, Sweden

10.1021/cg700940x CCC: $37.00  2007 American Chemical Society Published on Web 11/07/2007

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