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Experiment/Payload OverviewBrief Summary
Specialized microgravity facility that offered researchers several different crystal growth options in a controlled environment that enabled undisturbed nucleation (beginning of chemical changes at discrete points in a system) and growth of proteins to obtain large crystals for analysis on Earth. Understanding the results obtained from the crystals will lead to advances in manufacturing and biological processes.
Principal InvestigatorInformation Pending
Payload DeveloperAstrium GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Sponsoring AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Expeditions Assigned|3|
Previous ISS MissionsThe APCF has flown on several Shuttle flights dating back to 1985 including, STS-107 (Columbia), which was lost in 2003.
Experiment/Payload Description
Research Summary
- The APCF hardware contained 8 separate protein crystal investigations; these included APCF-Camelids, APCF-Crystal Quality, APCF-Crystal Growth, APCF-Lipoprotein, APCF-Lysozyme, APCF-Octarellins, APCF-PPG10 and APCF-Rhodopsin.
- APCF-Rhodopsin attempted to grow high-quality rhodopsin crystals in microgravity using the unique method of batch-under-oil. High-quality crystals were needed in order to reveal the structure-related details necessary for drug design.
Understanding proteins is basic to understanding the processes of living things. While we know the chemical formulae of proteins, learning the chemical structure of these macromolecules is more difficult. Mapping the three-dimensional structure of proteins, DNA, ribonucleic acid (RNA), carbohydrates, and viruses provides information concerning their functions and behavior. This knowledge is fundamental to the emerging field of rational drug design, replacing the trial-and-error method of drug development. Microgravity provides a unique environment for growing crystals, an environment that is free of the gravitational properties that can crush the delicate structures of crystals. Currently, several test facilities are used to grow crystals.
The Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (APCF) can support three crystal-growth methods: liquid-liquid diffusion, vapor diffusion, and dialysis. Liquid-liquid diffusion was not used during Expedition 3. In the vapor diffusion method, a crystal forms in a protein solution as a precipitant draws moisture in a surrounding reservoir. In the dialysis method, salt draws moisture away from the protein solution via a membrane separating the two, forming crystals. ESA has announced that due to potential difficulties with the vapor diffusion method that could cause experiment failure, it will no longer propose the use of this method with the APCF.
APCF-Rhodopsin was one of eight protein crystal investigations that was conducted in the Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility onboard the ISS during Expedition 3. Resolution of rhodopsin crystal structure needed to be improved in order to reveal essential details of ligand (extracellular substance that binds to receptors) structure and receptor activation and to function as a template for structure-based drug design within the G-coupled superfamily. No other structures were presently available. In order to achieve this purpose, APCF liquid-liquid reactors were modified to allow a novel crystallization technique to be used in microgravity, batch-under-oil, where the paraffin (an absorbent material) is added to silicone oil to enhance water transport out of the aqueous phase. As a result, both protein and precipitant ingredients concentrate together.
Applications
Space Applications
The crystals that are grown in microgravity are able to grow larger and better organized than ones grown on Earth. The research that is done on these crystals may further human space exploration efforts by technological and biological advancements developed as a direct result from this research.
Earth ApplicationsBiotechnology and pharmaceutical researchers carry out the process of protein crystallization in order to grow large, well-ordered crystals for use in X-ray diffraction studies. However, on Earth, the protein crystallization process is hindered by forces of sedimentation and convection since the molecules in the crystal solution are not of uniform size and weight. This leads to many crystals of irregular shape and small size that are unusable for X-ray diffraction. X-ray diffraction is a complex process which requires several months to several years to complete, and the quality of data obtained about the three-dimensional structure of a protein is directly dependent on the degree of perfection of the crystals. Thus, the structures of many important proteins remain a mystery simply because researchers are unable to obtain crystals of high enough quality or large enough size. Consequently, the growth of high quality macromolecular crystals for diffraction analyses has been of primary importance for protein engineers, biochemists, and pharmacologists.
Fortunately, the microgravity environment aboard the ISS is relatively free from the effects of sedimentation and convection and provides an exceptional environment for crystal growth. Crystals grown in microgravity could help scientists gain detailed knowledge of the atomic, three-dimensional structure of many important protein molecules used in pharmaceutical research for cancer treatments, stroke prevention and other diseases. The knowledge gained could be instrumental in the design and testing of new medicines.
Operations
Operational Requirements
The APCF consisted of a processing chamber and an array of support systems including power and data electronics, thermal control system, and video equipment. The APCF processing chamber accommodated 48 modular reactors. Designed to fit into a single EXPRESS locker, the reactors were activated and deactivated in groups of 12 by electronic motors, allowing groups of experiments to be started at different times during APCF's stay on Station. Ten of these reactors were observed by a high-resolution video camera, which allowed investigators to study crystal growth development. The optical system was mounted on a drive to enable direct observation of a protein chamber, 10 reactors in a sequence, 5 on each side. Five of the reactors were observed with a wide field of view, five with a narrow field. In addition, a Mach-Zender interferometer in the APCF made it possible to observe five of the reactors and to measure and visualize changes in the refractive index as the crystals grew.
The Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility was computer controlled and designed to run automatically, providing undisturbed nucleation. The crew checked the status of the facility by reading the LEDs mounted on the front panel daily. APCF required continuous and auxiliary power from the Station via EXPRESS Rack. Video and computer data was also sent via the Station computer to ground operators.
The APCF reactors were filled in Europe and shipped to the Kennedy Space Center ten days before launch. The reactors were activated after transfer to EXPRESS Rack 1 on ISS. The first processing method, vapor diffusion, allowed crystals to form inside a drop of protein solution. The second processing method, dialysis, separated the protein and salt solutions with a membrane. The facility's processing chamber was maintained at 20 degrees C and temperature data was recorded throughout the mission. Camera images in black and white were digitized and stored on the facility tape recorder. Data electronics recorded and stored other information.
On return to Earth, the protein crystals produced in the APCF were examined by crystallography and computers made the mathematical calculations needed to enable three-dimensional modeling of the proteins structures. Images from the video camera and data from the interferometer enabled investigators to study crystal growth development.
Results/More Information
Initial analysis of crystals returned from station support the findings of earlier APCF flights: comparative crystallographic analysis indicates that space-grown crystals are superior in every way to control-group crystals grown on Earth under identical conditions (except the critical space environment). Crystals grown in microgravity generally have improved morphology, larger volume, higher diffraction limit, and lower mosaicity as compared to Earth-grown crystals. The researchers reported that the electron-density maps calculated from diffraction data contained considerably more detail, allowing them to produce more accurate three-dimensional models (Vergara, 2005).
The APCF hardware performed well during ISS Expedition 3 with very few anomalies. APCF-Camelids, APCF-Crystal Quality, APCF-Crystal Growth, APCF-Lysozyme, APCF-Octarellins and APCF-PPG10 all produced excellent quality crystals that had better resolution and other optical properties than those grown on Earth. APCF-Lipoprotein successfully produced crystals but they did not achieve the expected level of resolution. APCF-Rhodopsin had slight technical problems that prevented the formation of suitable crystals.
Even though the reactors successfully produced small crystals on Earth, they did not perform well during their stay on ISS Expedition 3. Apparently, slight technical problems developed which lead to minor leakage of the protein chamber. Slow destabilization of the rhodopsin protein occurred which prevented formation of suitable crystals (One Year Postflight Report).
Related Web Sites
Publications
Results Publications
Related Publications
- Vergara A, Lober B, Sauter C, Giege R, Zagari A. Lessons from crystals grown in the Advanced Protein Crystallisation Facility for conventional crystallization applied to structural biology. Biophysical Chemistry. ;118:102-112. 2005
- Vergara A, Lorber B, Zagari A, Giege R. Physical aspects of protein crystal growth investigated with the Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility in reduced gravity environments. Acta Crystallographica, Section D, Biological Crystallography. ;59:2-15. 2003
Images
NASA Image: ISS003E8171 - The Advanced Protein Crystal Facility located in EXPRESS Rack 1 onboard ISS Expedition 3. Two other experiments, MAMS and SAMS-II, are installed below it. + View Larger Image
Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office