Elastic constants in orthorhombic hen egg-white lysozyme crystals

The ultrasonic sound velocities of cross-linked orthorhombic hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals, including a large amount of water in the crystal, were measured using an ultrasonic pulse-echo method. As a result, seven elastic constants of orthorhombic crystals were observed to be C11 = 5.24 GPa...

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Published inPhysical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 89; no. 1; p. 012714
Main Authors Kitajima, N, Tsukashima, S, Fujii, D, Tachibana, M, Koizumi, H, Wako, K, Kojima, K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 21.01.2014
Subjects
Computer Simulation
Crystallization
Elastic Modulus
Elasticity Imaging Techniques
Hardness
Models, Chemical
Models, Molecular
Muramidase - chemistry
Muramidase - ultrastructure
Protein Conformation
Shear Strength
Stress, Mechanical
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Summary:The ultrasonic sound velocities of cross-linked orthorhombic hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) crystals, including a large amount of water in the crystal, were measured using an ultrasonic pulse-echo method. As a result, seven elastic constants of orthorhombic crystals were observed to be C11 = 5.24 GPa, C22 = 4.87 GPa, C12 = 4.02 GPa, C33 = 5.23 GPa, C44 = 0.30 GPa, C55 = 0.40 GPa, and C66 = 0.43 GPa, respectively. However, C13 and C23 could not be observed because the suitable crystal planes could not be cut from bulk crystals. We conclude that the observed elastic constants of the cross-linked crystals are coincident with those of the intrinsic crystals without cross-linking. Moreover, the characteristics of the elastic constants in orthorhombic HEWL crystals are due to the fact that the shear elastic constants, C44, C55, and C66, are softer than in tetragonal crystals. That is, the shear components, C44, C55, and C66, are one half of those of the tetragonal crystals.
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/physreve.89.012714