Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31195: Crystal Clarity: Growing Hu Proteins in Microgravity on the ISS

Protein crystallization is a frontier in biotechnology, and the ISS is helping push those boundaries. One experiment in this quest is PCG-Hu, which involved crystallizing a protein known as Hu, short for Human antigen R.

Hu proteins are RNA-binding proteins that play critical roles in gene expression. They’re implicated in several cancers and neurological diseases, making them prime targets for structural studies.

On Earth, these proteins are notoriously hard to crystallize in useful forms. Gravity interferes with the orderly stacking of molecules, often resulting in flawed, disordered crystals. But in the microgravity of the ISS, the environment is ideal for crystal growth—no sedimentation, no convection currents.

By sending Hu protein samples to the ISS during Expeditions 43 and 44, researchers aimed to grow crystals of sufficient quality for high-resolution imaging. These biocrystals were then returned to Earth for X-ray analysis, revealing the structure of the Hu protein in atomic detail.

This knowledge can directly impact drug development, enabling the design of therapies that target Hu's function in disease processes.

By understanding the shape and behavior of these proteins, researchers are a step closer to treating conditions like ALS, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

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