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Strategies for sample delivery for femtosecond crystallography
- Highly efficient data-collection methods are required for successful macromolecular crystallography (MX) experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). XFEL beamtime is scarce, and the high peak brightness of each XFEL pulse destroys the exposed crystal volume. It is therefore necessary to combine diffraction images from a large number of crystals (hundreds to hundreds of thousands) to obtain a final data set, bringing about sample-refreshment challenges that have previously been unknown to the MX synchrotron community. In view of this experimental complexity, a number of sample delivery methods have emerged, each with specific requirements, drawbacks and advantages. To provide useful selection criteria for future experiments, this review summarizes the currently available sample delivery methods, emphasising the basic principles and the specific sample requirements. Two main approaches to sample delivery are first covered: (i) injector methods with liquid or viscous media and (ii) fixed-target methods using large crystals orHighly efficient data-collection methods are required for successful macromolecular crystallography (MX) experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). XFEL beamtime is scarce, and the high peak brightness of each XFEL pulse destroys the exposed crystal volume. It is therefore necessary to combine diffraction images from a large number of crystals (hundreds to hundreds of thousands) to obtain a final data set, bringing about sample-refreshment challenges that have previously been unknown to the MX synchrotron community. In view of this experimental complexity, a number of sample delivery methods have emerged, each with specific requirements, drawbacks and advantages. To provide useful selection criteria for future experiments, this review summarizes the currently available sample delivery methods, emphasising the basic principles and the specific sample requirements. Two main approaches to sample delivery are first covered: (i) injector methods with liquid or viscous media and (ii) fixed-target methods using large crystals or using microcrystals inside multi-crystal holders or chips. Additionally, hybrid methods such as acoustic droplet ejection and crystal extraction are covered, which combine the advantages of both fixed-target and injector approaches.…
Author details: | Isabelle MartielORCiD, Henrike Müller-WerkmeisterORCiDGND, Aina E. CohenORCiD |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1107/S2059798318017953 |
ISSN: | 2059-7983 |
ISSN: | 0907-4449 |
Pubmed ID: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30821705 |
Title of parent work (English): | Acta Crystallographica : Section D, Structural biology |
Publisher: | Bognor Regis |
Place of publishing: | Wiley |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2019/02/19 |
Publication year: | 2019 |
Release date: | 2021/04/14 |
Tag: | XFELs; protein microcrystals; sample delivery; serial femtosecond crystallography |
Volume: | 75 |
Number of pages: | 18 |
First page: | 160 |
Last Page: | 177 |
Funding institution: | DOE Office of Biological and Environmental ResearchUnited States Department of Energy (DOE); National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical SciencesUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) [P41GM103393] |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Biochemie und Biologie |
DDC classification: | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Hybrid Open-Access |