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Figure 1
Top view of the gradual filling of an angular pore orifice: (a) protein molecules are adsorbed (preferably) in the concave corners of the pore where they are bonded to two pore walls, while other molecules are floating in the solution; (b) a necklace-like loop of adsorbed (on the inner surface of the pore orifice) protein molecules is the preparatory stage of protein crystal nucleation in the pore, while (two) molecules are floating; (c) a bi-layer of adsorbed molecules is formed; (d) multilayer adsorption fills the pore orifices (but voids, or so-called vacancies, may remain in the 2D closest-packed crystal).

IUCrJ
Volume 8| Part 2| March 2021| Pages 270-280
ISSN: 2052-2525
https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252521000269