What does the microscope image in 'Chemistry in Pictures' actually show?

The microscope image shows part of one well in a 24-well crystallization plate, and inside the spherical structures visible in the image, tiny protein crystals are forming.

According to Saacnicteh Toledo-Patino, what is a key challenge in growing protein crystals?

According to Saacnicteh Toledo-Patino, growing protein crystals is 'anything but simple', with some crystals appearing within days while many never grow at all.

Chemistry in Pictures: Microscopic View of Protein Crystal Formation

Jul 20, 2026

Structural biochemist Saacnicteh Toledo-Patino captured a microscopic image of protein crystals forming during her research on peptide evolution at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. She notes that growing these crystals remains a complex process with varying success rates.

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2026-07-20

Chemistry in Pictures: Microscopic View of Protein Crystal Formation

Chemistry in Pictures: Microscopic View of Protein Crystal Formation

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