Using image analysis for automated crystal positioning in a synchrotron X-ray beam for high-throughput macromolecular crystallography

2004 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Andrey ◽  
Bernard Lavault ◽  
Florent Cipriani ◽  
Yves Maurin

A fully automated method for detecting and centring protein crystals for X-ray crystallography is described. It relies on the analysis of rotating crystal trace images. No assumption is made concerning the shape, absolute size, or position of the crystal within its holder. Crystals as small as 15 µm were successfully positioned. This represents an important step towards high-throughput structural studies.

IUCrJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 306-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Wolff ◽  
Iris D. Young ◽  
Raymond G. Sierra ◽  
Aaron S. Brewster ◽  
Michael W. Martynowycz ◽  
...  

Innovative new crystallographic methods are facilitating structural studies from ever smaller crystals of biological macromolecules. In particular, serial X-ray crystallography and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) have emerged as useful methods for obtaining structural information from crystals on the nanometre to micrometre scale. Despite the utility of these methods, their implementation can often be difficult, as they present many challenges that are not encountered in traditional macromolecular crystallography experiments. Here, XFEL serial crystallography experiments and MicroED experiments using batch-grown microcrystals of the enzyme cyclophilin A are described. The results provide a roadmap for researchers hoping to design macromolecular microcrystallography experiments, and they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the two methods. Specifically, we focus on how the different physical conditions imposed by the sample-preparation and delivery methods required for each type of experiment affect the crystal structure of the enzyme.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M Wolff ◽  
Iris D Young ◽  
Raymond G Sierra ◽  
Aaron S Brewster ◽  
Michael W Martynowycz ◽  
...  

AbstractInnovative new crystallographic methods are facilitating structural studies from ever smaller crystals of biological macromolecules. In particular, serial X-ray crystallography and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) have emerged as useful methods for obtaining structural information from crystals on the nanometer to micron scale. Despite the utility of these methods, their implementation can often be difficult, as they present many challenges not encountered in traditional macromolecular crystallography experiments. Here, we describe XFEL serial crystallography experiments and MicroED experiments using batch-grown microcrystals of the enzyme cyclophilin A (CypA). Our results provide a roadmap for researchers hoping to design macromolecular microcrystallography experiments, and they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the two methods. Specifically, we focus on how the different physical conditions imposed by the sample preparation and delivery methods required for each type of experiment effect the crystal structure of the enzyme.


2003 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 916-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amitabha Datta ◽  
Samiran Mitra ◽  
Georgina Rosair

Two new bimetallic complexes [Zn(phen)3][Fe(CN)5(NO)] · 2 H2O · 0.25 MeOH, (1) and [(bipy)2(H2O)Zn(μ-NC)Fe(CN)4(NO)] · 0.5 H2O, (2), have been isolated (where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and bipy = bipyridyl) and characterised by X-ray crystallography [as the 2 H2O · 0.25 CH3OH solvate for (1) and hemihydrate for (2)] infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Substitution of phenanthroline for bipyridyl resulted in a cyano-bridged bimetallic species rather than two discrete mononuclear metal complexes. The bond angles of Fe-N-O were shown to be practically linear for both 1 [179.2(7)°] and 2 [178.3(3)°], and the Zn atoms have distorted octahedral geometry. The solvent molecules in both crystal lattices take part in forming hydrogen-bonded networks.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin C McIlwain ◽  
Roja Gundepudi ◽  
B Ben Koff ◽  
Randy B Stockbridge

Fluc family fluoride channels protect microbes against ambient environmental fluoride by undermining the cytoplasmic accumulation of this toxic halide. These proteins are structurally idiosyncratic, and thus the permeation pathway and mechanism have no analogy in other known ion channels. Although fluoride binding sites were identified in previous structural studies, it was not evident how these ions access aqueous solution, and the molecular determinants of anion recognition and selectivity have not been elucidated. Using x-ray crystallography, planar bilayer electrophysiology and liposome-based assays, we identify additional binding sites along the permeation pathway. We use this information to develop an oriented system for planar lipid bilayer electrophysiology and observe anion block at one of these sites, revealing insights into the mechanism of anion recognition. We propose a permeation mechanism involving alternating occupancy of anion binding sites that are fully assembled only as the substrate approaches.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 1244-1255
Author(s):  
Sandra Kozak ◽  
Yehudi Bloch ◽  
Steven De Munck ◽  
Aleksandra Mikula ◽  
Isabel Bento ◽  
...  

Structural studies of glycoproteins and their complexes provide critical insights into their roles in normal physiology and disease. Most glycoproteins contain N-linked glycosylation, a key post-translation modification that critically affects protein folding and stability and the binding kinetics underlying protein interactions. However, N-linked glycosylation is often an impediment to yielding homogeneous protein preparations for structure determination by X-ray crystallography or other methods. In particular, obtaining diffraction-quality crystals of such proteins and their complexes often requires modification of both the type of glycosylation patterns and their extent. Here, we demonstrate the benefits of producing target glycoproteins in the GlycoDelete human embryonic kidney 293 cell line that has been engineered to produce N-glycans as short glycan stumps comprising N-acetylglucosamine, galactose and sialic acid. Protein fragments of human Down syndrome cell-adhesion molecule and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor were obtained from the GlycoDelete cell line for crystallization. The ensuing reduction in the extent and complexity of N-glycosylation in both protein molecules compared with alternative glycoengineering approaches enabled their productive deployment in structural studies by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, a third successful implementation of the GlycoDelete technology focusing on murine IL-12B is shown to lead to N-glycosylation featuring an immature glycan in diffraction-quality crystals. It is proposed that the GlycoDelete cell line could serve as a valuable go-to option for the production of homogeneous glycoproteins and their complexes for structural studies by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy.


2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (09) ◽  
pp. 804-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Carlucci ◽  
Gianfranco Ciani ◽  
Simona Maggini ◽  
Davide M. Proserpio ◽  
Fabio Ragaini ◽  
...  

We report herein the synthesis of the porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxybiphenyl)-porphyrin (H2TCBP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxy-2,6-dimethylbiphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCDMBP) bearing diphenyl units on meso-positions, and of their cobalt and silver derivatives. The silver complexes of H2TCDMBP and of H2TCPP ( H2TCPP = 5 ,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) were investigated by X-ray crystallography and their supramolecular organization elucidated. Co(TCBP) was reacted with copper formate, yielding a polymeric compound that showed a catalytic activity in the benzylic amination of hydrocarbons using arylazide as aminating agent.


Author(s):  
Vinícius Lucatelle da Silva ◽  
Ricardo Barros Mariutti ◽  
Mônika Aparecida Coronado ◽  
Raphael Josef Eberle ◽  
Fábio Rogério de Moraes ◽  
...  

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