[Crystallized human plasma proteins. I. Albumin, transthyretin, retinol-binding protein, ceruloplasmin and beta 2-glycoprotein I].

The presently known possibilities and conditions for achieving the crystallization of Albumin, Transthyretin, Retinol-binding Protein, Ceruloplasmin and beta 2-Glycoprotein I are described with respect to our own experiences. For isolating some proteins the crystallization gives rise to a real purification step. Sometimes degrees of purity near to 98 till 99% will be reached. Furthermore crystalline proteins are very important for the determination of the three-dimensional structure by aid of the X-ray diffraction analysis. For this purpose large single crystals are needed with minimum requirements of 0.4 mm length for all the three dimensions. Additionally the crystals must have a high degree of order on the molecular level and should allow recording of the diffraction pattern out to 3 A resolution. From the five proteins described here the three dimensional molecular structure of Transthyretin and Retinol-binding Protein could be elucidated by using the method of the X-ray diffraction analysis.