Macromolecular Crystallization and Crystal Perfection

Structural crystallography provides key information to understand the mechanism involved for biological processes. The technique requires high-quality crystals. The book Macromolecular crystallization and crystal perfection covers the techniques to get these high quality crystals and then obtain the best structural data from them. We focus on two areas, the crystal and the diffraction experiment. We briefly address crystallization theory and then focus on practical crystallization strategies discussing screening and optimization. Where high quality crystals are not initially obtained, remediation strategies and alternative approaches are discussed. Diffraction is covered from both the X-ray and neutron viewpoint. A physical analysis of long and short-range order is used to explain features seen in the diffraction pattern and the causes of those features. Diffraction disorders are discussed. Factors that cause degradation to the diffraction and strategies to mitigate those factors are addressed. We then address beamline and detector optimization as a means to improve the data quality. Crystallization is still a largely empirical process and our final chapters focus on the use of powder methods, where crystals are small, complementary techniques where we have no crystals at all and what the future holds with the advent of fourth generation X-ray sources. Overall the book is aimed at both more experienced researchers and graduate students. We aim for it to become a reference work for all researchers in these interdisciplinary subjects on these topics.