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Schroer MA, Schewa S, Gruzinov AY, Rönnau C, Lahey-Rudolph JM, Blanchet CE, Zickmantel T, Song YH, Svergun DI, Roessle M. Probing the existence of non-thermal Terahertz radiation induced changes of the protein solution structure. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22311. [PMID: 34785744 PMCID: PMC8595702 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01774-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decades discussions were taking place on the existence of global, non-thermal structural changes in biological macromolecules induced by Terahertz (THz) radiation. Despite numerous studies, a clear experimental proof of this effect for biological particles in solution is still missing. We developed a setup combining THz-irradiation with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), which is a sensitive method for detecting the expected structural changes. We investigated in detail protein systems with different shape morphologies (bovine serum albumin, microtubules), which have been proposed to be susceptible to THz-radiation, under variable parameters (THz wavelength, THz power densities up to 6.8 mW/cm2, protein concentrations). None of the studied systems and conditions revealed structural changes detectable by SAXS suggesting that the expected non-thermal THz-induced effects do not lead to alterations of the overall structures, which are revealed by scattering from dissolved macromolecules. This leaves us with the conclusion that, if such effects are present, these are either local or outside of the spectrum and power range covered by the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A. Schroer
- grid.475756.20000 0004 0444 5410European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation C/O DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.5718.b0000 0001 2187 5445Present Address: Nanoparticle Process Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Lotharstr. 1, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Siawosch Schewa
- University of Applied Sciences Luebeck, Moenkhofer Weg 239, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Andrey Yu. Gruzinov
- grid.475756.20000 0004 0444 5410European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation C/O DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Rönnau
- grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Institute of Physics, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | | | - Clement E. Blanchet
- grid.475756.20000 0004 0444 5410European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation C/O DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till Zickmantel
- grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Institute of Physics, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Young-Hwa Song
- grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Institute of Physics, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Dmitri I. Svergun
- grid.475756.20000 0004 0444 5410European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation C/O DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Roessle
- University of Applied Sciences Luebeck, Moenkhofer Weg 239, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
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Attenuated Total Reflection at THz Wavelengths: Prospective Use of Total Internal Reflection and Polariscopy. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11167632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Capabilities of the attenuated total reflection (ATR) at THz wavelengths for increased sub-surface depth characterisation of (bio-)materials are presented. The penetration depth of a THz evanescent wave in biological samples is dependent on the wavelength and temperature and can reach 0.1–0.5 mm depth, due to the strong refractive index change ∼0.4 of the ice-water transition; this is quite significant and important when studying biological samples. Technical challenges are discussed when using ATR for uneven, heterogeneous, high refractive index samples with the possibility of frustrated total internal reflection (a breakdown of the ATR reflection mode into transmission mode). Local field enhancements at the interface are discussed with numerical/analytical examples. Maxwell’s scaling is used to model the behaviour of absorber–scatterer inside the materials at the interface with the ATR prism for realistic complex refractive indices of bio-materials. The modality of ATR with a polarisation analysis is proposed, and its principle is illustrated, opening an invitation for its experimental validation. The sensitivity of the polarised ATR mode to the refractive index between the sample and ATR prism is numerically modelled and experimentally verified for background (air) spectra. The design principles of polarisation active optical elements and spectral filters are outlined. The results and proposed concepts are based on experimental conditions at the THz beamline of the Australian Synchrotron.
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Schewa S, Schroer MA, Zickmantel T, Song YH, Blanchet CE, Gruzinov AY, Katona G, Svergun DI, Roessle M. A THz transparent 3D printed microfluidic cell for small angle x-ray scattering. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:084101. [PMID: 32872894 DOI: 10.1063/5.0004706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Excitation frequencies in the terahertz (THz) range are expected to lead to functionally relevant domain movements within the biological macromolecules such as proteins. The possibility of examining such movements in an aqueous environment is particularly valuable since here proteins are not deprived of any motional degrees of freedom. Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful method to study the structure and domain movements of proteins in solution. Here, we present a microfluidic cell for SAXS experiments, which is also transparent for THz radiation. Specifically, cell dimensions and material were optimized for both radiation sources. In addition, the polystyrene cell can be 3D printed and easily assembled. We demonstrate the practicality of our design for SAXS measurements on several proteins in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Schewa
- University of Applied Sciences Lübeck, Mönkhofer Weg 239, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - M A Schroer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Zickmantel
- Physics Institute, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Y-H Song
- Physics Institute, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - C E Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Yu Gruzinov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - G Katona
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41390 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - D I Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Roessle
- University of Applied Sciences Lübeck, Mönkhofer Weg 239, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
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Piccirilli F, Schirò G, Vetri V, Lupi S, Perucchi A, Militello V. Decoding vibrational states of Concanavalin A amyloid fibrils. Biophys Chem 2015; 199:17-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Zhan H, Wu S, Bao R, Zhao K, Xiao L, Ge L, Shi H. Water adsorption dynamics in active carbon probed by terahertz spectroscopy. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra14730h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is vital to characterize the adsorption dynamics in oil–gas reservoirs and pollution control industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglei Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optical Detection Technology for Oil and Gas
| | - Shixiang Wu
- Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute
- China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation
- Beijing 100083
- China
| | - Rima Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optical Detection Technology for Oil and Gas
| | - Kun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optical Detection Technology for Oil and Gas
| | - Lizhi Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
| | - Lina Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
| | - Hongjie Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
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