Protein microcrystal diffraction and the effects of radiation damage with ultra-high-flux synchrotron radiation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Nov;82(22):7604-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.22.7604.

Abstract

By using ultra-high-flux synchrotron x-radiation from a wiggler source, good Laue diffraction data have been obtained from protein microcrystals of size 30 X 35 X 10 microns3, mounted wet in glass capillaries. At the flux level of 10(13)-10(14) photons per sec/mm2, the radiation damage is still low enough to allow a large survey of reciprocal space for a microcrystal and a complete survey for a normal-sized protein crystal. The development of sources for ultra-high-intensity synchrotron radiation is thus an important improvement in the technique for determination of structure through protein crystallography as well as in other cases where crystal size is often a limiting factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gramicidin
  • Particle Accelerators*
  • Proteins* / radiation effects
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Gramicidin