SZ—8飞船用蛋白质结晶装置的研制

Development of Apparatus for Protein Crystallization aboard SZ—8 Spaceship

空间的微重力环境有助于改善蛋白质晶体的生长质量。为解析高分辨率的蛋白质分子结构和进一步的理性药物设计提供帮助。为利用德国提供的空间生物培养箱在我国的SZ—8飞船上实施空间蛋白质结晶实验,研制了新型实验装置。新装置具有120个结晶室单元,重0.11 kg,体积10-4m3,单个结晶室蛋白液用量可少至1μL。对汽相扩散和液-液扩散蛋白质结晶方法通用,而且不需要电力供应,没有运动部件。经火箭发射和飞船返回的力学环境模拟测试以及实际结晶实验验证,表明装置安全可靠,满足使用需求。

The protein crystals of high quality could be cultured in the microgravity environment of space, which is important for the structure analysis of protein molecules and further rational drug design. A new kind of experimental apparatus for space protein crystallization is developed which is used in German Biobox aboard SZ-8 spaceship. The new apparatus has 120 crystallization cells, weight of 0. 11 kg, volume of 10-4 m3. The protein solution volume can be 1 μL for each crystallization cell. The apparatus has no motion parts and needs no power su ply for the consideration of simplicity and reliability. Both the vapor diffusion and liquid-liquid diffusion methods of protein crystallization could be carried out on the apparatus. The apparatus was experienced successfully the tests simulating the mechanic environments of rocket launching and spaceship re-entrance, which means its safety and reliability for space application. The application to the real crystallization experiments showed that the apparatus development could meet the requirement of space experiment aboard SZ-8 spaceship.