Acta Crystallographica Section D

Biological Crystallography

Volume 64, Part 1 (January 2008)


research papers



Acta Cryst. (2008). D64, 99-107    [ doi:10.1107/S090744490705531X ]

Surprises and pitfalls arising from (pseudo)symmetry

P. H. Zwart, R. W. Grosse-Kunstleve, A. A. Lebedev, G. N. Murshudov and P. D. Adams

Abstract: It is not uncommon for protein crystals to crystallize with more than a single molecule per asymmetric unit. When more than a single molecule is present in the asymmetric unit, various pathological situations such as twinning, modulated crystals and pseudo translational or rotational symmetry can arise. The presence of pseudosymmetry can lead to uncertainties about the correct space group, especially in the presence of twinning. The background to certain common pathologies is presented and a new notation for space groups in unusual settings is introduced. The main concepts are illustrated with several examples from the literature and the Protein Data Bank.

Keywords: pathology; twinning; pseudosymmetry.

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