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Strategies for sample delivery for femtosecond crystallography
- Source :
- Acta Crystallographica. Section D, Structural Biology
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Strategies for sample delivery of macromolecular crystals at X-ray free-electron lasers are reviewed, covering injection methods, fixed-target approaches and hybrid methods.<br />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 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.
- Subjects :
- serial femtosecond crystallography
Brightness
Time Factors
Computer science
Electrons
Nanotechnology
02 engineering and technology
Crystallography, X-Ray
law.invention
Crystal
03 medical and health sciences
Structural Biology
law
ddc:570
Animals
Humans
Acoustic droplet ejection
Institut für Biochemie und Biologie
030304 developmental biology
0303 health sciences
Lasers
sample delivery
Macromolecular crystallography
Proteins
Acoustics
Equipment Design
Injector
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Research Papers
Sample (graphics)
Synchrotron
XFELs
protein microcrystals
Flow Injection Analysis
Femtosecond
Crystallization
0210 nano-technology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Acta Crystallographica. Section D, Structural Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....edc4025bd0c8950aeba93a62f6b11608