macromolecular CHESS
Protein Crystallization Techniques
As mentioned previously, proteins are of great importance to biologists, chemists, and physicists alike because each structure performs a different function. It is extremely crucial for this method of imaging that the proteins are crystallized, but there can be several problems and some of those working at MacCHESS have admitted that a great deal of luck is still involved. A common method to grow protein crystals is called vapor diffusion, where the protein becomes more concentrated while a separate precipitate also becomes more concentrated. This type of crystallization can be done using pre-made fabrication kits called Hampton Research Kits. These decrease the amount of effort that the process requires, even though it certainly is not guaranteed to work. The more difficult proteins to crystallize are essentially the future for development possibilities because problems such as twinning in proteins, where two different crystalline structures are present in the same crystal, still do not have answers. This is where experts step in to continue research and find new and creative methods of circumventing the issues.
One technique that MacCHESS is credited with discovering to help crystallize even the more stubborn proteins and to help them maintain the crystal form even under the intense conditions of the X-rays is known as the loop mounting method. This involves holding the crystal in a loop, which is then dipped in either liquid helium or nitrogen, flash cooling it. Not only is the crystal more resilient to heat damage by the X-ray, but it maintains its properties almost 50 times better. For more in-depth information about this method, please click here.
For the official MacCHESS website, please click here.
As mentioned previously, proteins are of great importance to biologists, chemists, and physicists alike because each structure performs a different function. It is extremely crucial for this method of imaging that the proteins are crystallized, but there can be several problems and some of those working at MacCHESS have admitted that a great deal of luck is still involved. A common method to grow protein crystals is called vapor diffusion, where the protein becomes more concentrated while a separate precipitate also becomes more concentrated. This type of crystallization can be done using pre-made fabrication kits called Hampton Research Kits. These decrease the amount of effort that the process requires, even though it certainly is not guaranteed to work. The more difficult proteins to crystallize are essentially the future for development possibilities because problems such as twinning in proteins, where two different crystalline structures are present in the same crystal, still do not have answers. This is where experts step in to continue research and find new and creative methods of circumventing the issues.
One technique that MacCHESS is credited with discovering to help crystallize even the more stubborn proteins and to help them maintain the crystal form even under the intense conditions of the X-rays is known as the loop mounting method. This involves holding the crystal in a loop, which is then dipped in either liquid helium or nitrogen, flash cooling it. Not only is the crystal more resilient to heat damage by the X-ray, but it maintains its properties almost 50 times better. For more in-depth information about this method, please click here.
For the official MacCHESS website, please click here.
Richard Gillilan explains how MacCHESS controls their beams
Tiit Lukk gives an overview of MacCHESS