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| Biological Protein Crystal Growth -- Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN) |
| Principal Investigator: Dr. Alexander McPherson, University of California, Irvine; Project Manager: Raymond A. French, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. |
| Overview |
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The second in a series of low-cost biological protein crystal growth experiments to be transferred to, and conducted aboard, the International Space Station, will again use the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar (EGN). Scientists anticipate that analysis of the human and other proteins that make up the payload may contribute to their understanding of gene function and help uncover the genetic roots of diseases. As part of a pilot education program, the payload also contains protein samples loaded by high school students and teachers from Alabama, California, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas. The microgravity environment, or near-weightlessness of space sometimes helps grow higher-quality protein crystals. This allows researchers to better understand the molecular structure of proteins and how these proteins perform everything from carrying medicines in the body to making plants resist disease. The data obtained from the crystals grown in space are used to produce models of the structure of the protein molecules. Researchers also expect these experiments to contribute to their understanding of how, and why, biological crystals grow differently in space than they do on Earth. |
| History/Background |
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The Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar is a vacuum-jacketed container, similar to a thermos bottle, with an absorbent inner liner saturated with liquid nitrogen. Before launch, the protein samples are frozen to -321 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celsius) and placed in the Dewar. Once in orbit, the Dewar is transferred from the shuttle to the International Space Station. During this time, the liquid nitrogen warms and boils off (changes to gas), and the samples begin to thaw. After about 11 days, when the nitrogen is completely boiled off and thawing is completed, the crystallization process begins. The experiment is self-activating and does not require crew interaction. The Dewar and protein crystals remain aboard the space station until they are returned to Earth by STS-102, scheduled for March 2001. |
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