Intracrystalline proteins and @entity1791 : a synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity9984 @entity1522 @entity333 @entity3835 @entity6475 @entity1290 @entity16699 @entity367 @entity10812 @entity1791 @entity2574
The existence of intracrystalline proteins and @entity1522 in @entity3835 was demonstrated by X-ray synchrotron diffraction studies. Their presence has implications for the destruction of @entity3835 crystals formed in the urinary tract and the prevention of @entity1290 . INTRODUCTION: Although proteins are present in @entity1 @entity1290 , their role in stone pathogenesis remains unknown. This investigation aimed to characterize the nature of the relationship between the organic and mineral phases in @entity3835 ( @entity10812 ) crystals grown in @entity1 urine and in aqueous solutions of proteins and @entity1522 to clarify the function of proteins in @entity1791 . METHODS: @entity10812 crystals were grown in @entity1 urine and in aqueous solutions containing either @entity1 prothrombin (PT), Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG), @entity2574 ( @entity2574 ), @entity2574 dimer (Asp @entity2574 ), @entity367 ( @entity367 ), @entity367 dimer (GluGlu), or @entity16699 ( @entity9984 ). Controls consisted of @entity10812 crystals precipitated from pure inorganic solutions or from @entity1 urine that had been ultrafiltered to remove macromolecules. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction with Rietveld whole-pattern peak fitting and profile analysis was used to determine nonuniform crystal strain and crystallite size in polycrystalline samples. RESULTS: Crystals precipitated from ultrafiltered urine had lower nonuniform strain than those grown in urine or in aqueous PT solution. @entity6475 was much lower in crystals grown in distilled water or in the presence of @entity333 . For the @entity1522 , the highest nonuniform strain was exhibited by crystals grown in @entity9984 solution, followed by @entity367 . Crystallite size was inversely related to nonuniform strain, with the effect being significantly less for @entity1522 than for macromolecules. CONCLUSIONS: Selected proteins and @entity1522 associated with @entity10812 crystals are intracrystalline. Although their incorporation into the mineral bulk would be expected to affect the rate of crystal growth, they also have the potential to influence the phagocytosis and intracellular destruction of any crystals nucleated and trapped within the renal collecting system. Crystals impregnated with protein would be more susceptible to digestion by cellular proteases, which would provide access to the crystal core, thereby facilitating further proteolytic degradation and mineral dissolution. We therefore propose that intracrystalline proteins may constitute a natural form of defense against @entity1290 formation.
