Incoming links: Protein
For an example with context, have a look at E. Coli K-12 MG1655 and the second protein of the genome, e. Coli K-12 MG1655 gene thrA.
One of its main applications is to determine the 3D structure of proteins.
Sometimes you are not able to crystallize the proteins however, and the method cannot be used.
Crystallizing is not simple because:
- you need a considerable amount of the protein
- sometimes it only crystallizes if you add some extra small chemical that stabilizes it
Cryogenic electron microscopy can sometimes determine the structures of proteins that failed crystallization.