The Effects of Electric Fields on Protein Phase Behavior and Protein Crystallization Kinetics

We experimentally studied the effects of an externally applied electric field on protein crystallization and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its crystallization kinetics. For a surprisingly weak alternating current (AC) electric field, crystallization was found to occur in a wider region of the phase diagram, while nucleation induction times were reduced, and crystal growth rates were enhanced. LLPS on the contrary was suppressed, which diminishes the tendency for a two-step crystallization scenario. The effect of the electric field is ascribed to a change in the protein-protein interaction potential.