Experimental study on anisotropy of thermal properties of protein crystals

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K04335
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 19020:Thermal engineering-related
• Research Institution: Okayama University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Maki Syou 岡山理科大学, フロンティア理工学研究所, 准教授 (20502256)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 磁気力 / 磁気浮上 / タンパク質結晶成長 / 非定常短細線加熱法 / 熱物性値 / 熱伝導率 / 熱拡散率 / 磁場配向

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have experimentally measured the anisotropy of thermal properties of protein crystals, the existence of which was not even known until now, and have clarified the results showing its existence for the first time. By combining the transient short hot-wire method and the magnetic levitation on the bases of the magneto-Archimedes effect, the direction between the magnetically oriented crystals and the short hot-wire probe were adjusted by changing along that of magnetic field applied. We performed a detailed analysis of the slight variations in the measurement results of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, which will be attributed to the differences between the heat transfer direction and the crystal c-axis. As a result, we obtained the first results indicating the existence of anisotropy of protein crystals.

Free Research Field

応用物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

タンパク質結晶の生成は経験に基づく試行錯誤で行われているのが実情であるが、成長時に発生する反応熱が溶液相と結晶相のそれぞれにどのように熱輸送されるか不明であった。タンパク質結晶の熱物性値（熱伝導率、熱拡散率）が解明されることで、結晶成長時の伝熱モデルが定量化されることは工業的にも重要な知見であり、さらに異方性の存在を示すことは学術的にも価値のある研究である。いずれも未知の知見であり、本研究でその存在を初めて示すことが出来た意義は大きい。