SPC experiment is included in the scientific program of South African cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth and is a constituent part of the Russian Program for Implementation of Scientific and Technological Research Planned for the Fourth Manned Expedition ISS-4.

SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT USED:

• CPCF-2 module
  for accommodating 8 experimental reactors, where the processes of protein preparation growth are implemented;
• thermal insulation container
  for passive thermostatting CPCF-2 during delivery and return to Earth;
• activation mechanism
  for activating/deactivating crystallization processes in experimental reactors placed inside a sealed CPCF-2 module.

SUPPORT EQUIPMENT:

• Camera NIKON F5.

CONSUMABLES:

• 35-mm film.

THE OBJECTIVE:

Obtaining crystals of soluble proteins FcgIII and FcgeII with a highly perfect crystal structure.

THE TASK:

Obtaining high-quality protein monocrystals that are needed for ground X-ray structure analysis with high resolution.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

The result of the space experiment is a CPCF-2 module with crystals grown in zero gravity. X-ray structure analysis of protein crystals obtained in space flight (in zero-gravity environment) will be used in developing in developing a new generation of drugs.