Theoretical Studies on the Crystal Packing Form of Mt-Ii from Rat Liver

Considering that the conformational units should be the same in solution as in crystals during crystallization equilibrium, the minimal crystal packing unit is determined by the style of protein aggregations in solution. Based on the comparison of MT-II from rat liver and MT-I and MT-II from rabbit, it could be proven that in NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4, buffer, the aggregate of MT-II from rat liver would be tetramer, not dimer. From the analysis of the crystal packing model, it could be naturally deduced that the crystals were obtained from the packing of tetramers; moreover, the crystal packing could be comprehended more deeply by using the tetramer packing model.