The kinetic dose limit in room-temperature time-resolved macromolecular crystallography

J Synchrotron Radiat. 2012 Mar;19(Pt 2):264-73. doi: 10.1107/S090904951105549X. Epub 2012 Jan 18.

Abstract

Protein X-ray structures are determined with ionizing radiation that damages the protein at high X-ray doses. As a result, diffraction patterns deteriorate with the increased absorbed dose. Several strategies such as sample freezing or scavenging of X-ray-generated free radicals are currently employed to minimize this damage. However, little is known about how the absorbed X-ray dose affects time-resolved Laue data collected at physiological temperatures where the protein is fully functional in the crystal, and how the kinetic analysis of such data depends on the absorbed dose. Here, direct evidence for the impact of radiation damage on the function of a protein is presented using time-resolved macromolecular crystallography. The effect of radiation damage on the kinetic analysis of time-resolved X-ray data is also explored.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / radiation effects*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Kinetics
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial / chemistry*
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial / radiation effects*
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / radiation effects*
  • Temperature
  • X-Rays

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial
  • Proteins
  • photoactive yellow protein, Bacteria