Crystallization of canavalin as a function of pH

The question was posed of what happens to a protein that is known to grow as an n -mer when it is placed in solution conditions where it is monomeric. The trypsin-treated or cut form of the protein canavalin (CCAN) has been shown to nucleate and grow crystals as a trimer from neutral to slightly acidic solutions. Under these conditions the solution is composed almost wholly of trimers. The crystalline protein can be readily dissolved by weakly...