Observation of the early stage of insulin crystallization by confocal laser scanning microscopy

It is demonstrated that high resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a powerful tool for in situ observation and analysis of protein crystal growth. CLSM is used to study the early crystallization stage of Des-ThrB30 human insulin in aqueous solution, under conditions known to lead to monoclinic crystals. A modified batch crystallization method for CLSM purposes is applied which allows the growth behavior of crystallites to be...