scholarly journals High-resolution X-ray diffraction with no sample preparation

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Hansford ◽  
S. M. R. Turner ◽  
P. Degryse ◽  
A. J. Shortland

It is shown that energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) implemented in a back-reflection geometry is extremely insensitive to sample morphology and positioning even in a high-resolution configuration. This technique allows high-quality X-ray diffraction analysis of samples that have not been prepared and is therefore completely non-destructive. The experimental technique was implemented on beamline B18 at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in Oxfordshire, UK. The majority of the experiments in this study were performed with pre-characterized geological materials in order to elucidate the characteristics of this novel technique and to develop the analysis methods. Results are presented that demonstrate phase identification, the derivation of precise unit-cell parameters and extraction of microstructural information on unprepared rock samples and other sample types. A particular highlight was the identification of a specific polytype of a muscovite in an unprepared mica schist sample, avoiding the time-consuming and difficult preparation steps normally required to make this type of identification. The technique was also demonstrated in application to a small number of fossil and archaeological samples. Back-reflection EDXRD implemented in a high-resolution configuration shows great potential in the crystallographic analysis of cultural heritage artefacts for the purposes of scientific research such as provenancing, as well as contributing to the formulation of conservation strategies. Possibilities for moving the technique from the synchrotron into museums are discussed. The avoidance of the need to extract samples from high-value and rare objects is a highly significant advantage, applicable also in other potential research areas such as palaeontology, and the study of meteorites and planetary materials brought to Earth by sample-return missions.

Author(s):  
Inês B. Trindade ◽  
Bruno M. Fonseca ◽  
Pedro M. Matias ◽  
Ricardo O. Louro ◽  
Elin Moe

Siderophore-binding proteins (SIPs) perform a key role in iron acquisition in multiple organisms. In the genome of the marine bacteriumShewanella frigidimarinaNCIMB 400, the gene tagged as SFRI_RS12295 encodes a protein from this family. Here, the cloning, expression, purification and crystallization of this protein are reported, together with its preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis to 1.35 Å resolution. The SIP crystals belonged to the monoclinic space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 48.04,b= 78.31,c= 67.71 Å, α = 90, β = 99.94, γ = 90°, and are predicted to contain two molecules per asymmetric unit. Structure determination by molecular replacement and the use of previously determined ∼2 Å resolution SIP structures with ∼30% sequence identity as templates are ongoing.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sytle M. Antao ◽  
Ishmael Hassan

The crystal structures of marialite (Me6) from Badakhshan, Afghanistan and meionite (Me93) from Mt. Vesuvius, Italy were obtained using synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (HRPXRD) data and Rietveld structure refinements. Their structures were refined in space groups I4/m and P42/n, and similar results were obtained. The Me6 sample has a formula Ca0.24Na3.37K0.24[Al3.16Si8.84O24]Cl0.84(CO3)0.15, and its unit-cell parameters are a=12.047555(7), c=7.563210(6) Å, and V=1097.751(1) Å3. The average ⟨T1-O⟩ distances are 1.599(1) Å in I4/m and 1.600(2) Å in P42/n, indicating that the T1 site contains only Si atoms. In P42/n, the average distances of ⟨T2-O⟩=1.655(2) and ⟨T3-O⟩=1.664(2) Å are distinct and are not equal to each other. However, the mean ⟨T2,3-O⟩=1.659(2) Å in P42/n and is identical to the ⟨T2′-O⟩=1.659(1) Å in I4/m. The ⟨M-O⟩ [7]=2.754(1) Å (M site is coordinated to seven framework O atoms) and M-A=2.914(1) Å; these distances are identical in both space groups. The Me93 sample has a formula of Na0.29Ca3.76[Al5.54Si6.46O24]Cl0.05(SO4)0.02(CO3)0.93, and its unit-cell parameters are a=12.19882(1), c=7.576954(8) Å, and V=1127.535(2) Å3. A similar examination of the Me93 sample also shows that both space groups give similar results; however, the C–O distance is more reasonable in P42/n than in I4/m. Refining the scapolite structure near Me0 or Me100 in I4/m forces the T2 and T3 sites (both with multiplicity 8 in P42/n) to be equivalent and form the T2′ site (with multiplicity 16 in I4/m), but ⟨T2-O⟩ is not equal to ⟨T3-O⟩ in P42/n. Using different space groups for different regions across the series implies phase transitions, which do not occur in the scapolite series.


Author(s):  
Anneli Wennman ◽  
Ernst H. Oliw ◽  
Saeid Karkehabadi

Lipoxygenases constitute a family of nonhaem metal enzymes with catalytic iron or, occasionally, catalytic manganese. Lipoxygenases oxidize polyunsaturated fatty acids with position specificity and stereospecificity to hydroperoxides, which contribute to inflammation and the development of cancer. Little is known about the structural differences between lipoxygenases with Fe or Mn and the metal-selection mechanism. APichia pastorisexpression system was used for the production of the manganese lipoxygenase of the take-all fungus of wheat,Gaeumannomyces graminis. The active enzyme was treated with α-mannosidase, purified to apparent homogeneity and subjected to crystal screening and X-ray diffraction. The crystals diffracted to 2.6 Å resolution and belonged to space groupC2, with unit-cell parametersa= 226.6,b= 50.6,c= 177.92 Å, β = 91.70°.


Author(s):  
Keon Young Kim ◽  
Sunmin Kim ◽  
Jeong Kuk Park ◽  
HyoJin Song ◽  
SangYoun Park

Full-length SigR fromStreptomyces coelicolorA3(2) was overexpressed inEscherichia coli, purified and submitted to crystallization trials using either polyethylene glycol 3350 or 4000 as a precipitant. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.60 Å resolution under cryoconditions using synchrotron X-rays. The crystal packs in space groupP43212, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 42.14,c= 102.02 Å. According to the Matthews coefficient, the crystal asymmetric unit cannot contain the full-length protein. Molecular replacement with the known structures of region 2 and region 4 as independent search models indicates that the crystal contains only the −35 element-binding carboxyl-terminal region 4 of full-length SigR. Mass-spectrometric analysis of the harvested crystal confirms this, suggesting a crystal volume per protein weight (VM) of 2.24 Å3 Da−1and 45.1% solvent content.


Author(s):  
Peter-Thomas Naumann ◽  
Charles T. Lauhon ◽  
Ralf Ficner

The sulfurtransferase 4-thiouridine synthetase (ThiI) is involved in the ATP-dependent modification of U8 in tRNA. ThiI fromThermotoga maritimawas cloned, overexpressed and purified. A complex comprising ThiI and a truncated tRNA was prepared and crystallized, and X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 3.5 Å. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 102.9,b= 112.8,c= 132.8 Å.


Author(s):  
Junko Morita ◽  
Kazuki Kato ◽  
Emiko Mihara ◽  
Ryuichiro Ishitani ◽  
Junichi Takagi ◽  
...  

Enpp (ectonucleotide phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase) 6 is a membrane-bound glycoprotein that hydrolyzes choline-containing compounds such as lysophosphatidylcholine and glycerophosphorylcholine, and presumably participates in choline metabolism. The catalytic domain of mouse Enpp6 was expressed in HEK293T cells, purified using the TARGET tag/P20.1-Sepharose system and crystallized. An X-ray diffraction data set was collected to 1.8 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to space groupP1, with unit-cell parametersa= 63.7,b= 68.8,c= 69.7 Å, α = 60.6, β = 87.0, γ = 68.1°. Assuming the presence of two protein molecules per asymmetric unit, the solvent content was estimated to be 49.5%.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 1247-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Min Kim ◽  
Jae Young Choi ◽  
Jong Hwan Yoon ◽  
Hyun Ho Park

RAB11, a member of the Ras superfamily of small G proteins, is involved in the regulation of vesicle trafficking during endosome recycling. Substitution of Ser20 by Val20 in Rab11 [RAB11(S20V)] inhibits its GTP hydrolysis activity and produces a constitutively active GTP-binding form. In this study, the RAB11(S20V) mutant was overexpressed inEscherichia coliwith an engineered C-terminal His tag. RAB11(S20V) was then purified to homogeneity and was crystallized at 293 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.4 Å from a crystal belonging to space groupI4, with unit-cell parametersa = 74.11,b= 74.11,c= 149.44 Å. The asymmetric unit was estimated to contain two molecules of RAB11(S20V).


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 1224-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udaya Kumar Tiruttani Subhramanyam ◽  
Jan Kubicek ◽  
Ulf B. Eidhoff ◽  
Joerg Labahn

Prostate apoptosis response-4 protein is an intrinsically disordered pro-apoptotic protein with tumour suppressor function. Par-4 is known for its selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells only and its ability to interact with various apoptotic proteinsviaits C-terminus. Par-4, with its unique function and various interacting partners, has gained importance as a potential target for cancer therapy. The C-terminus of the rat homologue of Par-4 was crystallized and a 3.7 Å resolution X-ray diffraction data set was collected. Preliminary data analysis shows the space group to beP41212. The unit-cell parameters area=b= 115.351,c= 123.663 Å, α = β = γ = 90°.


Author(s):  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Zengqiang Gao ◽  
Haidai Hu ◽  
Jianhua Xu ◽  
Heng Zhang ◽  
...  

The putative protein PA5089 fromPseudomonas aeruginosahas recently been identified as a Tle5 phospholipase effector from a type VI secretion system (T6SS), and its toxicity can be neutralized by the cognate immunity protein Tli5 (PA5088). Here, the expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of PA5088 are reported. X-ray diffraction data were collected from selenomethionine-derivatized PA5088 crystals to a resolution of 2.55 Å. The crystals belonged to space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 64.002,b= 104.744,c= 90.168 Å.


Author(s):  
Eun-Jung Kim ◽  
Kyung-Jin Kim

(S)-3-Hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase fromClostridium butyricum(CbHBD) is an enzyme that catalyzes the second step in the biosynthesis ofn-butanol from acetyl-CoA by the reduction of acetoacetyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. TheCbHBD protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of 2 Mammonium sulfate, 0.1 MCAPS pH 10.5, 0.2 Mlithium sulfate at 295 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 2.3 Å on a synchrotron beamline. The crystal belonged to space groupR3, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 148.5,c= 201.6 Å. With four molecules per asymmetric unit, the crystal volume per unit protein weight (VM) is 3.52 Å3 Da−1, which corresponds to a solvent content of approximately 65.04%. The structure was solved by the molecular-replacement method and refinement of the structure is in progress.


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