Lysozyme Protein Crystal Growth in Microgravity

Celeste Brown, Jackson Middle School; 7th grade Josephine Smith, Jackson Middle School; 7th grade Teacher Facilitator: Jennifer Kelley; Jackson Middle School Scientific Advisor: Dr. Eric Gouaux; Oregon Health and Science University 

Our idea

• Wanted to help friend Brittany

• Looked at cancer research projects

• Chose Urokinase protein crystal growth

Hypothesis

We think the Lysozyme crystals will grow better and there will be more crystals in microgravity than when they are grown on Earth. We think this because gravity will affect the ionic bonds, making them weaker. In microgravity however, the bonds should be stronger, therefore giving us better results.

Experimental Design

• 2:1 of protein to NaCl

• Lysozyme

• NaCl 5%

• A 3 mm by 3 mm piece of cotton in a few of the wells.

Experiment Conditions

Ground truth experiment

• Residential home

• Lab conditions

Space shuttle:

• Microgravity

Problems/Solutions

• Urokinase $$$

• New enzyme

• Shuttle delay

• Transportation

• Diffraction lab

ResultsControlled environment=crystals.

•Didn’t find crystals in the space shuttle or home ground truth samples,because they were kept in uncontrollableenvironments.

•Crystals found in the lab ground truth,because the lab has a stable environment.

Conclusion

• Lab conditions need to be constant

• Shipping – crystals should have been frozen

• Hypothesis: Unsure due to issues with experiment conditions

Acknowledgements• Dr. Eric Gouaux, Sr. Scientist,

Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University

• Sigma- Aldrich Corporation• The Stanford Synchrotron

Radiation Lightsource at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

• Jennifer Kelley, Teacher Facilitator, Jackson Middle School

• Our Parents!