pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes
Protein crystals, otherwise usually colorless, can be stained a variety of hues by saturating them with dyes, by diffusion from the mother liquor or co-crystallization. The colors assumed by dyes are a function of chemical factors, particularly pH and redox potential. Protein crystals saturated with...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Crystals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/9/3/126 |
| _version_ | 1818014996453392384 |
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| author | Alexander McPherson |
| author_facet | Alexander McPherson |
| author_sort | Alexander McPherson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Protein crystals, otherwise usually colorless, can be stained a variety of hues by saturating them with dyes, by diffusion from the mother liquor or co-crystallization. The colors assumed by dyes are a function of chemical factors, particularly pH and redox potential. Protein crystals saturated with a pH sensitive dye, initially at one pH, can be exposed to the mother liquor at a second pH and the crystal will change color over time as H3O+ ions diffuse through the crystal. This allows diffusion rates of H3O+ through the crystal to be measured. Diffusion fronts are often clearly delineated. Similar experiments can be carried out with redox sensitive dyes by adding reductants, such as ascorbic acid or dithionite, or oxidants such as H2O2, to the crystal’s mother liquor. Presented here are a number of experiments using pH or redox sensitive dye-saturated protein crystals, and some experiments using double dye, sequential redox–pH changes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:51:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-485c70f2b3dc40f3bdf77202048df071 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:51:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-485c70f2b3dc40f3bdf77202048df0712022-12-22T02:07:01ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522019-03-019312610.3390/cryst9030126cryst9030126pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with DyesAlexander McPherson0Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USAProtein crystals, otherwise usually colorless, can be stained a variety of hues by saturating them with dyes, by diffusion from the mother liquor or co-crystallization. The colors assumed by dyes are a function of chemical factors, particularly pH and redox potential. Protein crystals saturated with a pH sensitive dye, initially at one pH, can be exposed to the mother liquor at a second pH and the crystal will change color over time as H3O+ ions diffuse through the crystal. This allows diffusion rates of H3O+ through the crystal to be measured. Diffusion fronts are often clearly delineated. Similar experiments can be carried out with redox sensitive dyes by adding reductants, such as ascorbic acid or dithionite, or oxidants such as H2O2, to the crystal’s mother liquor. Presented here are a number of experiments using pH or redox sensitive dye-saturated protein crystals, and some experiments using double dye, sequential redox–pH changes.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/9/3/126dyesdiffusionH3O+reductantscolor changegradients |
| spellingShingle | Alexander McPherson pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes Crystals dyes diffusion H3O+ reductants color change gradients |
| title | pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes |
| title_full | pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes |
| title_fullStr | pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes |
| title_full_unstemmed | pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes |
| title_short | pH and Redox Induced Color Changes in Protein Crystals Suffused with Dyes |
| title_sort | ph and redox induced color changes in protein crystals suffused with dyes |
| topic | dyes diffusion H3O+ reductants color change gradients |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/9/3/126 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexandermcpherson phandredoxinducedcolorchangesinproteincrystalssuffusedwithdyes |