The biological macromolecule crystallization database: A tool for developing crystallization strategies

Abstract

The Biological Macromolecule Crystallization Database (BMCD) contains the crystallization conditions and crystal data for crystal forms of all classes of biological macromolecules for which the unit cell dimensions and space group have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The BMCD provides a menu-driven interface that allows searching the data for a value or a range of values for any of 19 different parameters, individually or in any combination. The results of a search may be displayed or printed in a variety of different formats. In addition to providing the information necessary to crystallize a particular macromolecule, the BMCD may be utilized to design strategies for the crystallization of molecules that have not previously been crystallized. Strategies for the crystallization of modified (or mutant) biological macromolecules, biological macromolecules that are homologous to previously crystallized macromolecules, and unique biological macromolecules that have not been previously crystallized are discussed.