1
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Vlahakis N, Holton J, Sauter NK, Ercius P, Brewster AS, Rodriguez JA. 3D Nanocrystallography and the Imperfect Molecular Lattice. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2024; 75:483-508. [PMID: 38941528 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-083122-105226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Crystallographic analysis relies on the scattering of quanta from arrays of atoms that populate a repeating lattice. While large crystals built of lattices that appear ideal are sought after by crystallographers, imperfections are the norm for molecular crystals. Additionally, advanced X-ray and electron diffraction techniques, used for crystallography, have opened the possibility of interrogating micro- and nanoscale crystals, with edges only millions or even thousands of molecules long. These crystals exist in a size regime that approximates the lower bounds for traditional models of crystal nonuniformity and imperfection. Accordingly, data generated by diffraction from both X-rays and electrons show increased complexity and are more challenging to conventionally model. New approaches in serial crystallography and spatially resolved electron diffraction mapping are changing this paradigm by better accounting for variability within and between crystals. The intersection of these methods presents an opportunity for a more comprehensive understanding of the structure and properties of nanocrystalline materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Vlahakis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; and STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA;
| | - James Holton
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Nicholas K Sauter
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Peter Ercius
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Aaron S Brewster
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Jose A Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; and STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA;
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2
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Hogan-Lamarre P, Luo Y, Bücker R, Miller RJD, Zou X. STEM SerialED: achieving high-resolution data for ab initio structure determination of beam-sensitive nanocrystalline materials. IUCRJ 2024; 11:62-72. [PMID: 38038991 PMCID: PMC10833385 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252523009661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Serial electron diffraction (SerialED), which applies a snapshot data acquisition strategy for each crystal, was introduced to tackle the problem of radiation damage in the structure determination of beam-sensitive materials by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3DED). The snapshot data acquisition in SerialED can be realized using both transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopes (TEM/STEM). However, the current SerialED workflow based on STEM setups requires special external devices and software, which limits broader adoption. Here, we present a simplified experimental implementation of STEM-based SerialED on Thermo Fisher Scientific STEMs using common proprietary software interfaced through Python scripts to automate data collection. Specifically, we utilize TEM Imaging and Analysis (TIA) scripting and TEM scripting to access the STEM functionalities of the microscope, and DigitalMicrograph scripting to control the camera for snapshot data acquisition. Data analysis adapts the existing workflow using the software CrystFEL, which was developed for serial X-ray crystallography. Our workflow for STEM SerialED can be used on any Gatan or Thermo Fisher Scientific camera. We apply this workflow to collect high-resolution STEM SerialED data from two aluminosilicate zeolites, zeolite Y and ZSM-25. We demonstrate, for the first time, ab initio structure determination through direct methods using STEM SerialED data. Zeolite Y is relatively stable under the electron beam, and STEM SerialED data extend to 0.60 Å. We show that the structural model obtained using STEM SerialED data merged from 358 crystals is nearly identical to that using continuous rotation electron diffraction data from one crystal. This demonstrates that accurate structures can be obtained from STEM SerialED. Zeolite ZSM-25 is very beam-sensitive and has a complex structure. We show that STEM SerialED greatly improves the data resolution of ZSM-25, compared with serial rotation electron diffraction (SerialRED), from 1.50 to 0.90 Å. This allows, for the first time, the use of standard phasing methods, such as direct methods, for the ab initio structure determination of ZSM-25.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Hogan-Lamarre
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 80 George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-106, Sweden
| | - Robert Bücker
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany
| | - R. J. Dwayne Miller
- Department of Physics, University of Toronto, 80 George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Xiaodong Zou
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-106, Sweden
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3
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Richards L, Flores MD, Millán C, Glynn C, Zee CT, Sawaya MR, Gallagher-Jones M, Borges RJ, Usón I, Rodriguez JA. Fragment-Based Ab Initio Phasing of Peptidic Nanocrystals by MicroED. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:201-210. [PMID: 37096030 PMCID: PMC10119933 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Electron diffraction (MicroED/3DED) can render the three-dimensional atomic structures of molecules from previously unamenable samples. The approach has been particularly transformative for peptidic structures, where MicroED has revealed novel structures of naturally occurring peptides, synthetic protein fragments, and peptide-based natural products. Despite its transformative potential, MicroED is beholden to the crystallographic phase problem, which challenges its de novo determination of structures. ARCIMBOLDO, an automated, fragment-based approach to structure determination, eliminates the need for atomic resolution, instead enforcing stereochemical constraints through libraries of small model fragments, and discerning congruent motifs in solution space to ensure validation. This approach expands the reach of MicroED to presently inaccessible peptide structures including fragments of human amyloids, and yeast and mammalian prions. For electron diffraction, fragment-based phasing portends a more general phasing solution with limited model bias for a wider set of chemical structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan
S. Richards
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Maria D. Flores
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Claudia Millán
- Crystallographic
Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology
of Barcelona (IBMB−CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri
Reixach 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Calina Glynn
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Chih-Te Zee
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Department
of Biological Chemistry and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Howard
Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Marcus Gallagher-Jones
- Correlated
Imaging, The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science & Innovation
Campus, Rutherford Avenue, Harwell, Didcot OX11 0GD, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael J. Borges
- Crystallographic
Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology
of Barcelona (IBMB−CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri
Reixach 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Usón
- Crystallographic
Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology
of Barcelona (IBMB−CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri
Reixach 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA,
Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and
Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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4
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Danelius E, Patel K, Gonzalez B, Gonen T. MicroED in drug discovery. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 79:102549. [PMID: 36821888 PMCID: PMC10023408 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) method microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) was initially described in 2013 and has recently gained attention as an emerging technique for research in drug discovery. As compared to other methods in structural biology, MicroED provides many advantages deriving from the use of nanocrystalline material for the investigations. Here, we review the recent advancements in the field of MicroED and show important examples of small molecule, peptide and protein structures that has contributed to the current development of this method as an important tool for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Danelius
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E.Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Khushboo Patel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E.Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brenda Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E.Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E.Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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5
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Gillman C, Nicolas WJ, Martynowycz MW, Gonen T. Design and implementation of suspended drop crystallization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.28.534639. [PMID: 37034794 PMCID: PMC10081258 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a novel crystal growth method known as suspended drop crystallization. Unlike traditional methods, this technique involves mixing protein and precipitant directly on an electron microscopy grid without any additional support layers. The grid is then suspended within a crystallization chamber which we designed, allowing for vapor diffusion to occur from both sides of the drop. A UV transparent window above and below the grid enables the monitoring of crystal growth via light, UV, or fluorescence microscopy. Once crystals have formed, the grid can be removed and utilized for x-ray crystallography or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) directly without having to manipulate the crystals. To demonstrate the efficacy of this method, we grew crystals of the enzyme proteinase K and determined its structure by MicroED following FIB/SEM milling to render the sample thin enough for cryoEM. Suspended drop crystallization overcomes many of the challenges associated with sample preparation, providing an alternative workflow for crystals embedded in viscous media, sensitive to mechanical stress, and/or suffering from preferred orientation on EM grids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Gillman
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - William J. Nicolas
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Michael W. Martynowycz
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA, USA
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6
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Andrusenko I, Hall CL, Mugnaioli E, Potticary J, Hall SR, Schmidt W, Gao S, Zhao K, Marom N, Gemmi M. True molecular conformation and structure determination by three-dimensional electron diffraction of PAH by-products potentially useful for electronic applications. IUCRJ 2023; 10:131-142. [PMID: 36598508 PMCID: PMC9812223 DOI: 10.1107/s205225252201154x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The true molecular conformation and the crystal structure of benzo[e]dinaphtho[2,3-a;1',2',3',4'-ghi]fluoranthene, 7,14-diphenylnaphtho[1,2,3,4-cde]bisanthene and 7,16-diphenylnaphtho[1,2,3,4-cde]helianthrene were determined ab initio by 3D electron diffraction. All three molecules are remarkable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The molecular conformation of two of these compounds could not be determined via classical spectroscopic methods due to the large size of the molecule and the occurrence of multiple and reciprocally connected aromatic rings. The molecular structure of the third molecule was previously considered provisional. These compounds were isolated as by-products in the synthesis of similar products and were at the same time nanocrystalline and available only in very limited amounts. 3D electron diffraction data, taken from submicrometric single crystals, allowed for direct ab initio structure solution and the unbiased determination of the internal molecular conformation. Detailed synthetic routes and spectroscopic analyses are also discussed. Based on many-body perturbation theory simulations, benzo[e]dinaphtho[2,3-a;1',2',3',4'-ghi]fluoranthene may be a promising candidate for triplet-triplet annihilation and 7,14-diphenylnaphtho[1,2,3,4-cde]bisanthene may be a promising candidate for intermolecular singlet fission in the solid state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Andrusenko
- Center for Material Interfaces, Electron Crystallography, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera 56025, Italy
| | - Charlie L. Hall
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Enrico Mugnaioli
- Center for Material Interfaces, Electron Crystallography, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera 56025, Italy
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Jason Potticary
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Simon R. Hall
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | | | - Siyu Gao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Kaiji Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Noa Marom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Center for Material Interfaces, Electron Crystallography, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera 56025, Italy
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7
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Clabbers MTB, Martynowycz MW, Hattne J, Nannenga BL, Gonen T. Electron-counting MicroED data with the K2 and K3 direct electron detectors. J Struct Biol 2022; 214:107886. [PMID: 36044956 PMCID: PMC9999727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) uses electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to collect diffraction data from small crystals during continuous rotation of the sample. As a result of advances in hardware as well as methods development, the data quality has continuously improved over the past decade, to the point where even macromolecular structures can be determined ab initio. Detectors suitable for electron diffraction should ideally have fast readout to record data in movie mode, and high sensitivity at low exposure rates to accurately report the intensities. Direct electron detectors are commonly used in cryo-EM imaging for their sensitivity and speed, but despite their availability are generally not used in diffraction. Primary concerns with diffraction experiments are the dynamic range and coincidence loss, which will corrupt the measurement if the flux exceeds the count rate of the detector. Here, we describe instrument setup and low-exposure MicroED data collection in electron-counting mode using K2 and K3 direct electron detectors and show that the integrated intensities can be effectively used to solve structures of two macromolecules between 1.2 Å and 2.8 Å resolution. Even though a beam stop was not used with the K3 studies we did not observe damage to the camera. As these cameras are already available in many cryo-EM facilities, this provides opportunities for users who do not have access to dedicated facilities for MicroED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T B Clabbers
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States
| | - Michael W Martynowycz
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States
| | - Johan Hattne
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States
| | - Brent L Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States; Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles CA 90095, United States.
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8
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Clabbers MT, Martynowycz MW, Hattne J, Gonen T. Hydrogens and hydrogen-bond networks in macromolecular MicroED data. J Struct Biol X 2022; 6:100078. [PMID: 36507068 PMCID: PMC9731847 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjsbx.2022.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) is a powerful technique utilizing electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) for protein structure determination of crystalline samples too small for X-ray crystallography. Electrons interact with the electrostatic potential of the sample, which means that the scattered electrons carry information about the charged state of atoms and provide relatively stronger contrast for visualizing hydrogen atoms. Accurately identifying the positions of hydrogen atoms, and by extension the hydrogen bonding networks, is of importance for understanding protein structure and function, in particular for drug discovery. However, identification of individual hydrogen atom positions typically requires atomic resolution data, and has thus far remained elusive for macromolecular MicroED. Recently, we presented the ab initio structure of triclinic hen egg-white lysozyme at 0.87 Å resolution. The corresponding data were recorded under low exposure conditions using an electron-counting detector from thin crystalline lamellae. Here, using these subatomic resolution MicroED data, we identified over a third of all hydrogen atom positions based on strong difference peaks, and directly visualize hydrogen bonding interactions and the charged states of residues. Furthermore, we find that the hydrogen bond lengths are more accurately described by the inter-nuclei distances than the centers of mass of the corresponding electron clouds. We anticipate that MicroED, coupled with ongoing advances in data collection and refinement, can open further avenues for structural biology by uncovering the hydrogen atoms and hydrogen bonding interactions underlying protein structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T.B. Clabbers
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Michael W. Martynowycz
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Johan Hattne
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Corresponding author at: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
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9
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Abstract
![]()
Electron crystallography
has a storied history which rivals that
of its more established X-ray-enabled counterpart. Recent advances
in data collection and analysis have sparked a renaissance in the
field, opening a new chapter for this venerable technique. Burgeoning
interest in electron crystallography has spawned innovative methods
described by various interchangeable labels (3D ED, MicroED, cRED,
etc.). This Review covers concepts and findings relevant to the practicing
crystallographer, with an emphasis on experiments aimed at using electron
diffraction to elucidate the atomic structure of three-dimensional
molecular crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarneil Saha
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Shervin S Nia
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - José A Rodríguez
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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10
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Luo Y, Clabbers MTB, Qiao J, Yuan Z, Yang W, Zou X. Visualizing the Entire Range of Noncovalent Interactions in Nanocrystalline Hybrid Materials Using 3D Electron Diffraction. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:10817-10824. [PMID: 35678508 PMCID: PMC9490833 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Noncovalent interactions
are essential in the formation and properties
of a diverse range of hybrid materials. However, reliably identifying
the noncovalent interactions in nanocrystalline materials remains
challenging using conventional methods such as X-ray diffraction and
spectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate that accurate atomic positions
including hydrogen atoms can be determined using three-dimensional
electron diffraction (3D ED), from which the entire range of noncovalent
interactions in a nanocrystalline aluminophosphate hybrid material
SCM-34 are directly visualized. The protonation states of both the
inorganic and organic components in SCM-34 are determined from the
hydrogen positions. All noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen-bonding,
electrostatic, π–π stacking, and van der Waals
interactions, are unambiguously identified, which provides detailed
insights into the formation of the material. The 3D ED data also allow
us to distinguish different types of covalent bonds based on their
bond lengths and to identify an elongated terminal P=O π-bond
caused by noncovalent interactions. Our results show that 3D ED can
be a powerful tool for resolving detailed noncovalent interactions
in nanocrystalline materials. This can improve our understanding of
hybrid systems and guide the development of novel functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luo
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Max T B Clabbers
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jian Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, 1658 Pudong Beilu, Shanghai 201208, China
| | - Zhiqing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, 1658 Pudong Beilu, Shanghai 201208, China
| | - Weimin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Engineering and Industrial Catalysis, Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, 1658 Pudong Beilu, Shanghai 201208, China
| | - Xiaodong Zou
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Lutter L, Al-Hilaly YK, Serpell CJ, Tuite MF, Wischik CM, Serpell LC, Xue WF. Structural Identification of Individual Helical Amyloid Filaments by Integration of Cryo-Electron Microscopy-Derived Maps in Comparative Morphometric Atomic Force Microscopy Image Analysis. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167466. [PMID: 35077765 PMCID: PMC9005780 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The presence of amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of more than 50 human disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and systemic amyloidoses. A key unresolved challenge in understanding the involvement of amyloid in disease is to explain the relationship between individual structural polymorphs of amyloid fibrils, in potentially mixed populations, and the specific pathologies with which they are associated. Although cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy methods have been successfully employed in recent years to determine the structures of amyloid fibrils with high resolution detail, they rely on ensemble averaging of fibril structures in the entire sample or significant subpopulations. Here, we report a method for structural identification of individual fibril structures imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) by integration of high-resolution maps of amyloid fibrils determined by cryo-EM in comparative AFM image analysis. This approach was demonstrated using the hitherto structurally unresolved amyloid fibrils formed in vitro from a fragment of tau (297-391), termed 'dGAE'. Our approach established unequivocally that dGAE amyloid fibrils bear no structural relationship to heparin-induced tau fibrils formed in vitro. Furthermore, our comparative analysis resulted in the prediction that dGAE fibrils are structurally closely related to the paired helical filaments (PHFs) isolated from Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain tissue characterised by cryo-EM. These results show the utility of individual particle structural analysis using AFM, provide a workflow of how cryo-EM data can be incorporated into AFM image analysis and facilitate an integrated structural analysis of amyloid polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Lutter
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK. https://twitter.com/LiisaLutter
| | - Youssra K Al-Hilaly
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BN1 9QG Falmer, Brighton, UK; Chemistry Department, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Christopher J Serpell
- School of Physical Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NH Canterbury, UK. https://twitter.com/@SerpellLab
| | - Mick F Tuite
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Aberdeen, UK
| | - Louise C Serpell
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BN1 9QG Falmer, Brighton, UK. https://twitter.com/@Serpell1
| | - Wei-Feng Xue
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK.
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12
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Miller JG, Hughes SA, Modlin C, Conticello VP. Structures of synthetic helical filaments and tubes based on peptide and peptido-mimetic polymers. Q Rev Biophys 2022; 55:1-103. [PMID: 35307042 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583522000014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSynthetic peptide and peptido-mimetic filaments and tubes represent a diverse class of nanomaterials with a broad range of potential applications, such as drug delivery, vaccine development, synthetic catalyst design, encapsulation, and energy transduction. The structures of these filaments comprise supramolecular polymers based on helical arrangements of subunits that can be derived from self-assembly of monomers based on diverse structural motifs. In recent years, structural analyses of these materials at near-atomic resolution (NAR) have yielded critical insights into the relationship between sequence, local conformation, and higher-order structure and morphology. This structural information offers the opportunity for development of new tools to facilitate the predictable and reproduciblede novodesign of synthetic helical filaments. However, these studies have also revealed several significant impediments to the latter process – most notably, the common occurrence of structural polymorphism due to the lability of helical symmetry in structural space. This article summarizes the current state of knowledge on the structures of designed peptide and peptido-mimetic filamentous assemblies, with a focus on structures that have been solved to NAR for which reliable atomic models are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn G Miller
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA30322
| | - Spencer A Hughes
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA30322
| | - Charles Modlin
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA30322
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13
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Clabbers MTB, Shiriaeva A, Gonen T. MicroED: conception, practice and future opportunities. IUCRJ 2022; 9:169-179. [PMID: 35371502 PMCID: PMC8895021 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252521013063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This article documents a keynote seminar presented at the IUCr Congress in Prague, 2021. The cryo-EM method microcrystal electron diffraction is described and put in the context of macromolecular electron crystallography from its origins in 2D crystals of membrane proteins to today's application to 3D crystals a millionth the size of that needed for X-ray crystallography. Milestones in method development and applications are described with an outlook to the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T. B. Clabbers
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anna Shiriaeva
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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14
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Studying membrane proteins with MicroED. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:231-239. [PMID: 35191473 PMCID: PMC9022970 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The structural investigation of biological macromolecules is indispensable in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases. Several structural biology techniques have been introduced to unravel the structural facets of biomolecules. Among these, the electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) method microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has produced atomic resolution structures of important biological and small molecules. Since its inception in 2013, MicroED established a demonstrated ability for solving structures of difficult samples using vanishingly small crystals. However, membrane proteins remain the next big frontier for MicroED. The intrinsic properties of membrane proteins necessitate improved sample handling and imaging techniques to be developed and optimized for MicroED. Here, we summarize the milestones of electron crystallography of two-dimensional crystals leading to MicroED of three-dimensional crystals. Then, we focus on four different membrane protein families and discuss representatives from each family solved by MicroED.
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15
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Martynowycz MW, Clabbers MTB, Hattne J, Gonen T. Ab initio phasing macromolecular structures using electron-counted MicroED data. Nat Methods 2022; 19:724-729. [PMID: 35637302 PMCID: PMC9184278 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01485-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Structures of two globular proteins were determined ab initio using microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) data that were collected on a direct electron detector in counting mode. Microcrystals were identified using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thinned with a focused ion beam (FIB) to produce crystalline lamellae of ideal thickness. Continuous-rotation data were collected using an ultra-low exposure rate to enable electron counting in diffraction. For the first sample, triclinic lysozyme extending to a resolution of 0.87 Å, an ideal helical fragment of only three alanine residues provided initial phases. These phases were improved using density modification, allowing the entire atomic structure to be built automatically. A similar approach was successful on a second macromolecular sample, proteinase K, which is much larger and diffracted to a resolution of 1.5 Å. These results demonstrate that macromolecules can be determined to sub-ångström resolution by MicroED and that ab initio phasing can be successfully applied to counting data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Martynowycz
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Max T. B. Clabbers
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Johan Hattne
- grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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16
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Samperisi L, Zou X, Huang Z. Three-Dimensional Electron Diffraction: A Powerful Structural Characterization Technique for Crystal Engineering. CrystEngComm 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2ce00051b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Understanding crystal structures and behaviors is crucial for constructing and engineering crystalline materials with various properties and functions. Recent advancement in three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) and its application on...
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17
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Microcrystal electron diffraction in macromolecular and pharmaceutical structure determination. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2021; 37:93-105. [PMID: 34895659 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has recently shown to be a promising technique for structure determination in structural biology and pharmaceutical chemistry. Here, we discuss the unique properties of electrons and motivate its use for diffraction experiments. We review the latest developments in MicroED, and illustrate its applications in macromolecular crystallography, fragment screening and structure guided drug discovery. We discuss the perspectives of MicroED in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical development. We anticipate that the rapid advances MicroED showcased here will promote further development of electron crystallography and open up new opportunities for drug discovery.
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18
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Roterman I, Stapor K, Fabian P, Konieczny L. In Silico Modeling of the Influence of Environment on Amyloid Folding Using FOD-M Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10587. [PMID: 34638925 PMCID: PMC8508659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the environment in amyloid formation based on the fuzzy oil drop model (FOD) is discussed here. This model assumes that the hydrophobicity distribution within a globular protein is consistent with a 3D Gaussian (3DG) distribution. Such a distribution is interpreted as the idealized effect of the presence of a polar solvent-water. A chain with a sequence of amino acids (which are bipolar molecules) determined by evolution recreates a micelle-like structure with varying accuracy. The membrane, which is a specific environment with opposite characteristics to the polar aquatic environment, directs the hydrophobic residues towards the surface. The modification of the FOD model to the FOD-M form takes into account the specificity of the cell membrane. It consists in "inverting" the 3DG distribution (complementing the Gaussian distribution), which expresses the exposure of hydrophobic residues on the surface. It turns out that the influence of the environment for any protein (soluble or membrane-anchored) is the result of a consensus factor expressing the participation of the polar environment and the "inverted" environment. The ratio between the proportion of the aqueous and the "reversed" environment turns out to be a characteristic property of a given protein, including amyloid protein in particular. The structure of amyloid proteins has been characterized in the context of prion, intrinsically disordered, and other non-complexing proteins to cover a wider spectrum of molecules with the given characteristics based on the FOD-M model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Roterman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Telemedicine, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 7, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Stapor
- Institute of Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (K.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Piotr Fabian
- Institute of Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 16, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; (K.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Leszek Konieczny
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 7, 31-034 Kraków, Poland;
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Ghosh R, Bu G, Nannenga BL, Sumner LW. Recent Developments Toward Integrated Metabolomics Technologies (UHPLC-MS-SPE-NMR and MicroED) for Higher-Throughput Confident Metabolite Identifications. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:720955. [PMID: 34540897 PMCID: PMC8445028 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.720955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics has emerged as a powerful discipline to study complex biological systems from a small molecule perspective. The success of metabolomics hinges upon reliable annotations of spectral features obtained from MS and/or NMR. In spite of tremendous progress with regards to analytical instrumentation and computational tools, < 20% of spectral features are confidently identified in most untargeted metabolomics experiments. This article explores the integration of multiple analytical instruments such as UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR and the cryo-EM method MicroED to achieve large-scale and confident metabolite identifications in a higher-throughput manner. UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE allows for the simultaneous automated purification of metabolites followed by offline structure elucidation and structure validation by NMR and MicroED. Large-scale study of complex metabolomes such as that of the model plant legume Medicago truncatula can be achieved using an integrated UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR metabolomics platform. Additionally, recent developments in MicroED to study structures of small organic molecules have enabled faster, easier and precise structure determinations of metabolites. A MicroED small molecule structure elucidation workflow (e.g., crystal screening, sample preparation, data collection and data processing/structure determination) has been described. Ongoing MicroED methods development and its future scope related to structure elucidation of specialized metabolites and metabolomics are highlighted. The incorporation of MicroED with a UHPLC-MS/MS-SPE-NMR instrumental ensemble offers the potential to accelerate and achieve higher rates of metabolite identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Ghosh
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Guanhong Bu
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Brent L. Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lloyd W. Sumner
- Division of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, SC, United States
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20
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Hall CL, Andrusenko I, Potticary J, Gao S, Liu X, Schmidt W, Marom N, Mugnaioli E, Gemmi M, Hall SR. 3D Electron Diffraction Structure Determination of Terrylene, a Promising Candidate for Intermolecular Singlet Fission. Chemphyschem 2021; 22:1631-1637. [PMID: 34117821 PMCID: PMC8457070 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202100320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Herein we demonstrate the prowess of the 3D electron diffraction approach by unveiling the structure of terrylene, the third member in the series of peri‐condensed naphthalene analogues, which has eluded structure determination for 65 years. The structure was determined by direct methods using electron diffraction data and corroborated by dispersion‐inclusive density functional theory optimizations. Terrylene crystalizes in the monoclinic space group P21/a, arranging in a sandwich‐herringbone packing motif, similar to analogous compounds. Having solved the crystal structure, we use many‐body perturbation theory to evaluate the excited‐state properties of terrylene in the solid‐state. We find that terrylene is a promising candidate for intermolecular singlet fission, comparable to tetracene and rubrene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie L Hall
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Iryna Andrusenko
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Jason Potticary
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Siyu Gao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Xingyu Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | | | - Noa Marom
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
| | - Enrico Mugnaioli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Simon R Hall
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
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21
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Jha KK, Gruza B, Chodkiewicz ML, Jelsch C, Dominiak PM. Refinements on electron diffraction data of β-glycine in MoPro: a quest for an improved structure model. J Appl Crystallogr 2021. [DOI: 10.1107/s160057672100580x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement in 3D electron diffraction (3D ED) techniques that lead to a revolution in molecular structure determination using nano-sized crystals is now achieving atomic resolution. The structures can be obtained from 3D ED data with tools similar to those used for X-ray structure determination. In this context, the MoPro software, originally designed for structure and charge density refinements using X-ray diffraction data, has been adapted. Structure refinement on 3D ED data was achieved via implementation of electron scattering factors available in the literature and by application of the Mott–Bethe equation to X-ray scattering factors computed from the multipolar atom model. The multipolar model was parametrized using the transferable pseudoatom databanks ELMAM2 and UBDB. Applying the independent atom model (IAM), i.e. spherical neutral atom refinement, to 3D ED data on β-glycine in MoPro resulted in structure and refinement statistics comparable to those obtained from other well known software. Use of the transferred aspherical atom model (TAAM) led to improvement of the refinement statistics and a better fit of the model to the 3D ED data as compared with the spherical atom refinement. The anisotropic displacement parameters of non-H atoms appear underestimated by typically 0.003 Å2 for the non-H atoms in IAM refinement compared with TAAM. Thus, MoPro is shown to be an effective tool for crystal structure refinement on 3D ED data and allows use of a spherical or a multipolar atom model. Electron density databases can be readily transferred with no further modification needed when the Mott–Bethe equation is applied.
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22
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Abstract
The bedrock of drug discovery and a key tool for understanding cellular function and drug mechanisms of action is the structure determination of chemical compounds, peptides, and proteins. The development of new structure characterization tools, particularly those that fill critical gaps in existing methods, presents important steps forward for structural biology and drug discovery. The emergence of microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) expands the application of cryo-electron microscopy to include samples ranging from small molecules and membrane proteins to even large protein complexes using crystals that are one-billionth the size of those required for X-ray crystallography. This review outlines the conception, achievements, and exciting future trajectories for MicroED, an important addition to the existing biophysical toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelang Mu
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA; .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Cody Gillman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA; .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Chi Nguyen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA;
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA; .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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23
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An overview of the recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy for life sciences. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 5:151-168. [PMID: 33760078 DOI: 10.1042/etls20200295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cryo-electron microscopy (CryoEM) has superseded X-ray crystallography and NMR to emerge as a popular and effective tool for structure determination in recent times. It has become indispensable for the characterization of large macromolecular assemblies, membrane proteins, or samples that are limited, conformationally heterogeneous, and recalcitrant to crystallization. Besides, it is the only tool capable of elucidating high-resolution structures of macromolecules and biological assemblies in situ. A state-of-the-art electron microscope operable at cryo-temperature helps preserve high-resolution details of the biological sample. The structures can be determined, either in isolation via single-particle analysis (SPA) or helical reconstruction, electron diffraction (ED) or within the cellular environment via cryo-electron tomography (cryoET). All the three streams of SPA, ED, and cryoET (along with subtomogram averaging) have undergone significant advancements in recent times. This has resulted in breaking the boundaries with respect to both the size of the macromolecules/assemblies whose structures could be determined along with the visualization of atomic details at resolutions unprecedented for cryoEM. In addition, the collection of larger datasets combined with the ability to sort and process multiple conformational states from the same sample are providing the much-needed link between the protein structures and their functions. In overview, these developments are helping scientists decipher the molecular mechanism of critical cellular processes, solve structures of macromolecules that were challenging targets for structure determination until now, propelling forward the fields of biology and biomedicine. Here, we summarize recent advances and key contributions of the three cryo-electron microscopy streams of SPA, ED, and cryoET.
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Clabbers MTB, Holmes S, Muusse TW, Vajjhala PR, Thygesen SJ, Malde AK, Hunter DJB, Croll TI, Flueckiger L, Nanson JD, Rahaman MH, Aquila A, Hunter MS, Liang M, Yoon CH, Zhao J, Zatsepin NA, Abbey B, Sierecki E, Gambin Y, Stacey KJ, Darmanin C, Kobe B, Xu H, Ve T. MyD88 TIR domain higher-order assembly interactions revealed by microcrystal electron diffraction and serial femtosecond crystallography. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2578. [PMID: 33972532 PMCID: PMC8110528 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22590-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
MyD88 and MAL are Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptors that signal to induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production. We previously observed that the TIR domain of MAL (MALTIR) forms filaments in vitro and induces formation of crystalline higher-order assemblies of the MyD88 TIR domain (MyD88TIR). These crystals are too small for conventional X-ray crystallography, but are ideally suited to structure determination by microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) and serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX). Here, we present MicroED and SFX structures of the MyD88TIR assembly, which reveal a two-stranded higher-order assembly arrangement of TIR domains analogous to that seen previously for MALTIR. We demonstrate via mutagenesis that the MyD88TIR assembly interfaces are critical for TLR4 signaling in vivo, and we show that MAL promotes unidirectional assembly of MyD88TIR. Collectively, our studies provide structural and mechanistic insight into TLR signal transduction and allow a direct comparison of the MicroED and SFX techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T B Clabbers
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Susannah Holmes
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Timothy W Muusse
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Parimala R Vajjhala
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sara J Thygesen
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alpeshkumar K Malde
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dominic J B Hunter
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tristan I Croll
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Leonie Flueckiger
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jeffrey D Nanson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Md Habibur Rahaman
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Aquila
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Mark S Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Mengning Liang
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Chun Hong Yoon
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nadia A Zatsepin
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brian Abbey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emma Sierecki
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yann Gambin
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katryn J Stacey
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Connie Darmanin
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Hongyi Xu
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Thomas Ve
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
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25
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Intrinsic electronic conductivity of individual atomically resolved amyloid crystals reveals micrometer-long hole hopping via tyrosines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2014139118. [PMID: 33372136 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014139118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins are commonly known to transfer electrons over distances limited to a few nanometers. However, many biological processes require electron transport over far longer distances. For example, soil and sediment bacteria transport electrons, over hundreds of micrometers to even centimeters, via putative filamentous proteins rich in aromatic residues. However, measurements of true protein conductivity have been hampered by artifacts due to large contact resistances between proteins and electrodes. Using individual amyloid protein crystals with atomic-resolution structures as a model system, we perform contact-free measurements of intrinsic electronic conductivity using a four-electrode approach. We find hole transport through micrometer-long stacked tyrosines at physiologically relevant potentials. Notably, the transport rate through tyrosines (105 s-1) is comparable to cytochromes. Our studies therefore show that amyloid proteins can efficiently transport charges, under ordinary thermal conditions, without any need for redox-active metal cofactors, large driving force, or photosensitizers to generate a high oxidation state for charge injection. By measuring conductivity as a function of molecular length, voltage, and temperature, while eliminating the dominant contribution of contact resistances, we show that a multistep hopping mechanism (composed of multiple tunneling steps), not single-step tunneling, explains the measured conductivity. Combined experimental and computational studies reveal that proton-coupled electron transfer confers conductivity; both the energetics of the proton acceptor, a neighboring glutamine, and its proximity to tyrosine influence the hole transport rate through a proton rocking mechanism. Surprisingly, conductivity increases 200-fold upon cooling due to higher availability of the proton acceptor by increased hydrogen bonding.
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Clabbers MTB, Xu H. Macromolecular crystallography using microcrystal electron diffraction. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:313-324. [PMID: 33645535 PMCID: PMC7919406 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320016368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) has recently emerged as a promising method for macromolecular structure determination in structural biology. Since the first protein structure was determined in 2013, the method has been evolving rapidly. Several protein structures have been determined and various studies indicate that MicroED is capable of (i) revealing atomic structures with charges, (ii) solving new protein structures by molecular replacement, (iii) visualizing ligand-binding interactions and (iv) determining membrane-protein structures from microcrystals embedded in lipidic mesophases. However, further development and optimization is required to make MicroED experiments more accurate and more accessible to the structural biology community. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of the field, and highlight the ongoing development, to provide an indication of where the field may be going in the coming years. We anticipate that MicroED will become a robust method for macromolecular structure determination, complementing existing methods in structural biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max T. B. Clabbers
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hongyi Xu
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Danelius E, Halaby S, van der Donk WA, Gonen T. MicroED in natural product and small molecule research. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:423-431. [PMID: 32939523 PMCID: PMC7965795 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00035c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2013 to 2020The electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) method Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED) allows the collection of high-resolution structural data from vanishingly small crystals that appear like amorphous powders or very fine needles. Since its debut in 2013, data collection and analysis schemes have been fine-tuned, and there are currently close to 100 structures determined by MicroED. Although originally developed to study proteins, MicroED is also very powerful for smaller systems, with some recent and very promising examples from the field of natural products. Herein, we review what has been achieved so far and provide examples of natural product structures, as well as demonstrate the expected future impact of MicroED to the field of natural product and small molecule research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Danelius
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, 615 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Abstract
Structural elucidation of small macromolecules such as peptides has recently been facilitated by a growing number of technological advances to existing crystallographic methods. The emergence of electron micro-diffraction (MicroED) of protein nanocrystals under cryogenic conditions has enabled the interrogation of crystalline peptide assemblies only hundreds of nanometers thick. Collection of atomic or near-atomic resolution data by these methods has permitted the ab initio determination of structures of various amyloid-forming peptides, including segments derived from prions and ice-nucleating proteins. This chapter focuses on the process of ab initio structural determination from nano-scale peptide assemblies and other similar molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Te Zee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ambarneil Saha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA-DOE Institute, Departments of Biological Chemistry, Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Jose A Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Abstract
Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED) is the newest cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) method, with over 70 protein, peptide, and several small organic molecule structures already determined. In MicroED, micro- or nanocrystalline samples in solution are deposited on electron microscopy grids and examined in a cryo-electron microscope, ideally under cryogenic conditions. Continuous rotation diffraction data are collected and then processed using conventional X-ray crystallography programs. The protocol outlined here details how to obtain and identify the nanocrystals, how to set up the microscope for screening and for MicroED data collection, and how to collect and process data to complete high-resolution structures. For well-behaving crystals with high-resolution diffraction in cryo-EM, the entire process can be achieved in less than an hour.
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Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) enables atomic resolution structures to be determined from vanishingly small crystals. Soluble proteins typically grow crystals that are tens to hundreds of microns in size for X-ray crystallography. But membrane protein crystals often grow crystals that are too small for X-ray diffraction and yet too large for MicroED. These crystals are often formed in thick, viscous media that challenge traditional cryoEM grid preparation. Here, we describe two approaches for preparing membrane protein crystals for MicroED data collection: application of a crystal slurry directly to EM grids, and focused ion beam milling in a Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM). We summarize the case of preparing an ion channel, NaK, and the workflow of focused ion-beam milling. By milling away the excess media and crystalline material, crystals of any size may be prepared for MicroED. Finally, an energy filter may be used to help minimize inelastic scattering leading to lower noise on recorded images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Martynowycz
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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31
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Ito S, White FJ, Okunishi E, Aoyama Y, Yamano A, Sato H, Ferrara JD, Jasnowski M, Meyer M. Structure determination of small molecule compounds by an electron diffractometer for 3D ED/MicroED. CrystEngComm 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1ce01172c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Development of a diffractometer specialized for electron diffraction experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Ito
- Rigaku Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8666, Japan
| | - Fraser J. White
- Rigaku Europe SE, Hugenottenallee 167, 63263 Neu Isenburg, Germany
| | - Eiji Okunishi
- JEOL Ltd, 3-1-2 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8558, Japan
| | | | - Akihito Yamano
- Rigaku Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8666, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Sato
- Rigaku Corporation, 3-9-12 Matsubara-cho, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8666, Japan
| | - Joseph D. Ferrara
- Rigaku Americas Corporation, Inc., 9009 New Trails Drive, TheWoodlands, TX 77381-5209, USA
| | - Michał Jasnowski
- Rigaku Polska Sp. Z o.o, ul. Szarskiego 3, 54-609 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mathias Meyer
- Rigaku Polska Sp. Z o.o, ul. Szarskiego 3, 54-609 Wrocław, Poland
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32
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Abstract
Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED) enables structure determination of very small crystals that are much too small to be of use for other conventional diffraction techniques. MicroED has been used to determine the structures of many proteins and small organic molecules, and the technique can be performed on most standard cryo-TEM instruments equipped with high-speed detectors capable of collecting electron diffraction data. Here, we present protocols for MicroED sample preparation and data collection for protein microcrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanhong Bu
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Brent L Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Lermyte F. Roles, Characteristics, and Analysis of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: A Minireview. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E320. [PMID: 33266184 PMCID: PMC7761095 DOI: 10.3390/life10120320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing understanding that a significant fraction of the eukaryotic proteome is intrinsically disordered, and that these conformationally dynamic proteins play a myriad of vital biological roles in both normal and pathological states. In this review, selected examples of intrinsically disordered proteins are highlighted, with particular attention for a few which are relevant in neurological disorders and in viral infection. Next, the underlying causes for the intrinsic disorder are discussed, along with computational methods used to predict whether a given amino acid sequence is likely to adopt a folded or unfolded state in the solution. Finally, biophysical methods for the analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins will be discussed, as well as the unique challenges they pose in this context due to their highly dynamic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Lermyte
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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34
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Polovinkin V, Khakurel K, Babiak M, Angelov B, Schneider B, Dohnalek J, Andreasson J, Hajdu J. Demonstration of electron diffraction from membrane protein crystals grown in a lipidic mesophase after lamella preparation by focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperatures. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:1416-1424. [PMID: 33304220 PMCID: PMC7710488 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720013096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Electron diffraction experiments on crystals of membrane proteins grown in lipidic mesophases have not been possible owing to a thick layer of viscous crystallization medium around the crystals. Here it is shown that focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperatures (cryo-FIB milling) can remove the viscous layer, and high-quality electron diffraction on a FIB-milled lamella of a bacteriorhodopsin 3D crystal is demonstrated. Electron crystallography of sub-micrometre-sized 3D protein crystals has emerged recently as a valuable field of structural biology. In meso crystallization methods, utilizing lipidic mesophases, particularly lipidic cubic phases (LCPs), can produce high-quality 3D crystals of membrane proteins (MPs). A major step towards realizing 3D electron crystallography of MP crystals, grown in meso, is to demonstrate electron diffraction from such crystals. The first task is to remove the viscous and sticky lipidic matrix that surrounds the crystals without damaging the crystals. Additionally, the crystals have to be thin enough to let electrons traverse them without significant multiple scattering. In the present work, the concept that focused ion beam milling at cryogenic temperatures (cryo-FIB milling) can be used to remove excess host lipidic mesophase matrix is experimentally verified, and then the crystals are thinned to a thickness suitable for electron diffraction. In this study, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) crystals grown in a lipidic cubic mesophase of monoolein were used as a model system. LCP from a part of a hexagon-shaped plate-like BR crystal (∼10 µm in thickness and ∼70 µm in the longest dimension), which was flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen, was milled away with a gallium FIB under cryogenic conditions, and a part of the crystal itself was thinned into a ∼210 nm-thick lamella with the ion beam. The frozen sample was then transferred into an electron cryo-microscope, and a nanovolume of ∼1400 × 1400 × 210 nm of the BR lamella was exposed to 200 kV electrons at a fluence of ∼0.06 e Å−2. The resulting electron diffraction peaks were detected beyond 2.7 Å resolution (with an average peak height to background ratio of >2) by a CMOS-based Ceta 16M camera. The results demonstrate that cryo-FIB milling produces high-quality lamellae from crystals grown in lipidic mesophases and pave the way for 3D electron crystallography on crystals grown or embedded in highly viscous media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaly Polovinkin
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Krishna Khakurel
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Babiak
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/4, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Borislav Angelov
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Schneider
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, CZ-252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dohnalek
- Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, CZ-252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jakob Andreasson
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Janos Hajdu
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Science, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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35
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Banihashemi F, Bu G, Thaker A, Williams D, Lin JYS, Nannenga BL. Beam-sensitive metal-organic framework structure determination by microcrystal electron diffraction. Ultramicroscopy 2020; 216:113048. [PMID: 32570132 PMCID: PMC7492392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2020.113048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of metal-organic framework (MOF) structure by electron microscopy and electron diffraction offers an alternative to growing large single crystals for high-resolution X-ray diffraction. However, many MOFs are electron beam-sensitive, which can make structural analysis using high-resolution electron microscopy difficult. In this work we use the microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) method to collect high-resolution electron diffraction data from a model beam-sensitive MOF, ZIF-8. The diffraction data could be used to determine the structure of ZIF-8 to 0.87 Å from a single ZIF-8 nanocrystal, and this refined structure compares well with previously published structures of ZIF-8 determined by X-ray crystallography. This demonstrates that MicroED can be a valuable tool for the analysis of beam-sensitive MOF structures directly from nano and microcrystalline material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Banihashemi
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, PO Box 876106, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Guanhong Bu
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, PO Box 876106, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 727 East Tyler Street, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Amar Thaker
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, PO Box 876106, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 727 East Tyler Street, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Dewight Williams
- John M. Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Jerry Y S Lin
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, PO Box 876106, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Brent L Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, PO Box 876106, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States; Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 727 East Tyler Street, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States.
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36
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Richards LS, Millán C, Miao J, Martynowycz MW, Sawaya MR, Gonen T, Borges RJ, Usón I, Rodriguez JA. Fragment-based determination of a proteinase K structure from MicroED data using ARCIMBOLDO_SHREDDER. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2020; 76:703-712. [PMID: 32744252 PMCID: PMC7397493 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798320008049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure determination of novel biological macromolecules by X-ray crystallography can be facilitated by the use of small structural fragments, some of only a few residues in length, as effective search models for molecular replacement to overcome the phase problem. Independence from the need for a complete pre-existing model with sequence similarity to the crystallized molecule is the primary appeal of ARCIMBOLDO, a suite of programs which employs this ab initio algorithm for phase determination. Here, the use of ARCIMBOLDO is investigated to overcome the phase problem with the electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM) method known as microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED). The results support the use of the ARCIMBOLDO_SHREDDER pipeline to provide phasing solutions for a structure of proteinase K from 1.6 Å resolution data using model fragments derived from the structures of proteins sharing a sequence identity of as low as 20%. ARCIMBOLDO_SHREDDER identified the most accurate polyalanine fragments from a set of distantly related sequence homologues. Alternatively, such templates were extracted in spherical volumes and given internal degrees of freedom to refine towards the target structure. Both modes relied on the rotation function in Phaser to identify or refine fragment models and its translation function to place them. Model completion from the placed fragments proceeded through phase combination of partial solutions and/or density modification and main-chain autotracing using SHELXE. The combined set of fragments was sufficient to arrive at a solution that resembled that determined by conventional molecular replacement using the known target structure as a search model. This approach obviates the need for a single, complete and highly accurate search model when phasing MicroED data, and permits the evaluation of large fragment libraries for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan S. Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA–DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Claudia Millán
- Crystallographic Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB–CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri Reixac 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer Miao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA–DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael W. Martynowycz
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rafael J. Borges
- Crystallographic Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB–CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri Reixac 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Usón
- Crystallographic Methods, Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB–CSIC), Barcelona Science Park, Helix Building, Baldiri Reixac 15, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA–DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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37
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Thompson MC, Yeates TO, Rodriguez JA. Advances in methods for atomic resolution macromolecular structure determination. F1000Res 2020; 9:F1000 Faculty Rev-667. [PMID: 32676184 PMCID: PMC7333361 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.25097.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technical advances have dramatically increased the power and scope of structural biology. New developments in high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, serial X-ray crystallography, and electron diffraction have been especially transformative. Here we highlight some of the latest advances and current challenges at the frontiers of atomic resolution methods for elucidating the structures and dynamical properties of macromolecules and their complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Todd O. Yeates
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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38
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Gallagher-Jones M, Bustillo KC, Ophus C, Richards LS, Ciston J, Lee S, Minor AM, Rodriguez JA. Atomic structures determined from digitally defined nanocrystalline regions. IUCRJ 2020; 7:490-499. [PMID: 32431832 PMCID: PMC7201287 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520004030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nanocrystallography has transformed our ability to interrogate the atomic structures of proteins, peptides, organic molecules and materials. By probing atomic level details in ordered sub-10 nm regions of nanocrystals, scanning nanobeam electron diffraction extends the reach of nanocrystallography and in principle obviates the need for diffraction from large portions of one or more crystals. Scanning nanobeam electron diffraction is now applied to determine atomic structures from digitally defined regions of beam-sensitive peptide nanocrystals. Using a direct electron detector, thousands of sparse diffraction patterns over multiple orientations of a given crystal are recorded. Each pattern is assigned to a specific location on a single nanocrystal with axial, lateral and angular coordinates. This approach yields a collection of patterns that represent a tilt series across an angular wedge of reciprocal space: a scanning nanobeam diffraction tomogram. Using this diffraction tomogram, intensities can be digitally extracted from any desired region of a scan in real or diffraction space, exclusive of all other scanned points. Intensities from multiple regions of a crystal or from multiple crystals can be merged to increase data completeness and mitigate missing wedges. It is demonstrated that merged intensities from digitally defined regions of two crystals of a segment from the OsPYL/RCAR5 protein produce fragment-based ab initio solutions that can be refined to atomic resolution, analogous to structures determined by selected-area electron diffraction. In allowing atomic structures to now be determined from digitally outlined regions of a nanocrystal, scanning nanobeam diffraction tomography breaks new ground in nanocrystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Gallagher-Jones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Karen C. Bustillo
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA
| | - Colin Ophus
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA
| | - Logan S. Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jim Ciston
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA
| | - Sangho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Andrew M. Minor
- National Center for Electron Microscopy, Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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39
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Martynowycz MW, Hattne J, Gonen T. Experimental Phasing of MicroED Data Using Radiation Damage. Structure 2020; 28:458-464.e2. [PMID: 32023481 PMCID: PMC7313391 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) can be used to determine atomic-resolution structures from vanishingly small three-dimensional crystals. Here, we present an example of an experimentally phased structure using only MicroED data. The structure of a seven-residue peptide is solved starting from differences to the diffraction intensities induced by structural changes due to radiation damage. The same wedge of reciprocal space was recorded twice by continuous-rotation MicroED from a set of 11 individual crystals. The data from the first pass were merged to make a "low-dose dataset." The data from the second pass were similarly merged to form a "damaged dataset." Differences between these two datasets were used to identify a single heavy-atom site from a Patterson difference map, and initial phases were generated. Finally, the structure was completed by iterative cycles of modeling and refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Martynowycz
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Johan Hattne
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tamir Gonen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of Biological Chemistry and Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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40
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Gruza B, Chodkiewicz ML, Krzeszczakowska J, Dominiak PM. Refinement of organic crystal structures with multipolar electron scattering factors. Acta Crystallogr A Found Adv 2020; 76:92-109. [PMID: 31908353 PMCID: PMC8127334 DOI: 10.1107/s2053273319015304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A revolution in resolution is occurring now in electron microscopy arising from the development of methods for imaging single particles at cryogenic temperatures and obtaining electron diffraction data from nanocrystals of small organic molecules or macromolecules. Near-atomic or even atomic resolution of molecular structures can be achieved. The basis of these methods is the scattering of an electron beam due to the electrostatic potential of the sample. To analyse these high-quality experimental data, it is necessary to use appropriate atomic scattering factors. The independent atom model (IAM) is commonly used although various more advanced models, already known from X-ray diffraction, can also be applied to enhance the analysis. In this study a comparison is presented of IAM and TAAM (transferable aspherical atom model), the latter with the parameters of the Hansen-Coppens multipole model transferred from the University at Buffalo Databank (UBDB). By this method, TAAM takes into account the fact that atoms in molecules are partially charged and are not spherical. Structure refinements were performed on a carbamazepine crystal using electron structure-factor amplitudes determined experimentally [Jones et al. (2018). ACS Cent. Sci. 4, 1587-1592] or modelled with theoretical quantum-mechanical methods. The results show the possibilities and limitations of the TAAM method when applied to electron diffraction. Among others, the method clearly improves model fitting statistics, when compared with IAM, and allows for reliable refinement of atomic thermal parameters. The improvements are more pronounced with poorer-resolution diffraction data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Gruza
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | - Michał Leszek Chodkiewicz
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | - Joanna Krzeszczakowska
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | - Paulina Maria Dominiak
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
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41
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Nannenga BL. MicroED methodology and development. STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (MELVILLE, N.Y.) 2020; 7:014304. [PMID: 32071929 PMCID: PMC7018523 DOI: 10.1063/1.5128226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microcrystal electron diffraction, or MicroED, is a method that is capable of determining structure from very small and thin 3D crystals using a transmission electron microscope. MicroED has been successfully used on microcrystalline samples, including proteins, peptides, and small organic molecules, in many cases to very high resolutions. In this work, the MicroED workflow will be briefly described and areas of future method development will be highlighted. These areas include improvements in sample preparation, data collection, and structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent L Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA and Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, USA
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42
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CryoEM: a crystals to single particles round-trip. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 58:59-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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43
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Khakurel KP, Angelov B, Andreasson J. Macromolecular Nanocrystal Structural Analysis with Electron and X-Rays: A Comparative Review. Molecules 2019; 24:E3490. [PMID: 31561479 PMCID: PMC6804143 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24193490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystallography has long been the unrivaled method that can provide the atomistic structural models of macromolecules, using either X-rays or electrons as probes. The methodology has gone through several revolutionary periods, driven by the development of new sources, detectors, and other instrumentation. Novel sources of both X-ray and electrons are constantly emerging. The increase in brightness of these sources, complemented by the advanced detection techniques, has relaxed the traditionally strict need for large, high quality, crystals. Recent reports suggest high-quality diffraction datasets from crystals as small as a few hundreds of nanometers can be routinely obtained. This has resulted in the genesis of a new field of macromolecular nanocrystal crystallography. Here we will make a brief comparative review of this growing field focusing on the use of X-rays and electrons sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Khakurel
- Institute of Physics, ELI Beamlines, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Slovance 2, CZ-18221 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Borislav Angelov
- Institute of Physics, ELI Beamlines, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Slovance 2, CZ-18221 Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jakob Andreasson
- Institute of Physics, ELI Beamlines, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Slovance 2, CZ-18221 Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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44
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Jaroniec CP. Two decades of progress in structural and dynamic studies of amyloids by solid-state NMR. JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE (SAN DIEGO, CALIF. : 1997) 2019; 306:42-47. [PMID: 31311708 PMCID: PMC6703944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2019.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In this perspective article I briefly highlight the rapid progress made over the past two decades in atomic level structural and dynamic studies of amyloids, which are representative of non-crystalline biomacromolecular assemblies, by magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Given new and continuing developments in solid-state NMR instrumentation and methodology, ongoing research in this area promises to contribute to an improved understanding of amyloid structure, polymorphism, interactions, assembly mechanisms, and biological function and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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45
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Gemmi M, Mugnaioli E, Gorelik TE, Kolb U, Palatinus L, Boullay P, Hovmöller S, Abrahams JP. 3D Electron Diffraction: The Nanocrystallography Revolution. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2019; 5:1315-1329. [PMID: 31482114 PMCID: PMC6716134 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Crystallography of nanocrystalline materials has witnessed a true revolution in the past 10 years, thanks to the introduction of protocols for 3D acquisition and analysis of electron diffraction data. This method provides single-crystal data of structure solution and refinement quality, allowing the atomic structure determination of those materials that remained hitherto unknown because of their limited crystallinity. Several experimental protocols exist, which share the common idea of sampling a sequence of diffraction patterns while the crystal is tilted around a noncrystallographic axis, namely, the goniometer axis of the transmission electron microscope sample stage. This Outlook reviews most important 3D electron diffraction applications for different kinds of samples and problematics, related with both materials and life sciences. Structure refinement including dynamical scattering is also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Gemmi
- Center
for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza S. Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrico Mugnaioli
- Center
for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza S. Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tatiana E. Gorelik
- University
of Ulm, Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Electron Microscopy
Group of Materials Science (EMMS), Albert Einstein Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Kolb
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Analytische Chemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institut
für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 9, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lukas Palatinus
- Department
of Structure Analysis, Institute of Physics
of the CAS, Na Slovance 2, 182 21 Prague 8, Czechia
| | - Philippe Boullay
- CRISMAT,
Normandie Université, ENSICAEN, UNICAEN, CNRS UMR 6508, 6 Bd Maréchal Juin, F-14050 Cedex Caen, France
| | - Sven Hovmöller
- Inorganic
and Structural Chemistry, Department of Materials and Environmental
Chemistry, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Pieter Abrahams
- Center
for Cellular Imaging and NanoAnalytics (C−CINA), Biozentrum, Basel University, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Department
of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer
Institut (PSI), CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Leiden
Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
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46
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Iadanza MG, Jackson MP, Hewitt EW, Ranson NA, Radford SE. A new era for understanding amyloid structures and disease. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2019; 19:755-773. [PMID: 30237470 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-018-0060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 557] [Impact Index Per Article: 111.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils and their deposition into plaques and intracellular inclusions is the hallmark of amyloid disease. The accumulation and deposition of amyloid fibrils, collectively known as amyloidosis, is associated with many pathological conditions that can be associated with ageing, such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, type II diabetes and dialysis-related amyloidosis. However, elucidation of the atomic structure of amyloid fibrils formed from their intact protein precursors and how fibril formation relates to disease has remained elusive. Recent advances in structural biology techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, have finally broken this impasse. The first near-atomic-resolution structures of amyloid fibrils formed in vitro, seeded from plaque material and analysed directly ex vivo are now available. The results reveal cross-β structures that are far more intricate than anticipated. Here, we describe these structures, highlighting their similarities and differences, and the basis for their toxicity. We discuss how amyloid structure may affect the ability of fibrils to spread to different sites in the cell and between organisms in a prion-like manner, along with their roles in disease. These molecular insights will aid in understanding the development and spread of amyloid diseases and are inspiring new strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Iadanza
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Matthew P Jackson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Eric W Hewitt
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Neil A Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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47
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Data-driven challenges and opportunities in crystallography. Emerg Top Life Sci 2019; 3:423-432. [PMID: 33523208 PMCID: PMC7289006 DOI: 10.1042/etls20180177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Structural biology is in the midst of a revolution fueled by faster and more powerful instruments capable of delivering orders of magnitude more data than their predecessors. This increased pace in data gathering introduces new experimental and computational challenges, frustrating real-time processing and interpretation of data and requiring long-term solutions for data archival and retrieval. This combination of challenges and opportunities is driving the exploration of new areas of structural biology, including studies of macromolecular dynamics and the investigation of molecular ensembles in search of a better understanding of conformational landscapes. The next generation of instruments promises to yield even greater data rates, requiring a concerted effort by institutions, centers and individuals to extract meaning from every bit and make data accessible to the community at large, facilitating data mining efforts by individuals or groups as analysis tools improve.
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48
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Gemmi M, Lanza AE. 3D electron diffraction techniques. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, STRUCTURAL SCIENCE, CRYSTAL ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS 2019; 75:495-504. [PMID: 32830707 DOI: 10.1107/s2052520619007510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
3D electron diffraction is an emerging technique for the structural analysis of nanocrystals. The challenges that 3D electron diffraction has to face for providing reliable data for structure solution and the different ways of overcoming these challenges are described. The route from zone axis patterns towards 3D electron diffraction techniques such as precession-assisted electron diffraction tomography, rotation electron diffraction and continuous rotation is also discussed. Finally, the advantages of the new hybrid detectors with high sensitivity and fast readout are demonstrated with a proof of concept experiment of continuous rotation electron diffraction on a natrolite nanocrystal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Gemmi
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Arianna E Lanza
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, 56127, Italy
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49
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Zatsepin NA, Li C, Colasurd P, Nannenga BL. The complementarity of serial femtosecond crystallography and MicroED for structure determination from microcrystals. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 58:286-293. [PMID: 31345629 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, nano and microcrystals have emerged as a valuable source of high-resolution structural information owing to the invention of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) with X-ray free electron lasers and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) using electron cryomicroscopes. Once considered useless for structure determination, nano/microcrystals now confer significant advantages for static and time-resolved structure determination from a wide variety of difficult-to-study targets. MicroED has been used to obtain sub-Ångstrom resolution maps in which hydrogen atoms can be clearly resolved from only a few nano/microcrystals, while SFX has been used to probe protein dynamics following reaction initiation on time scales from femtoseconds to minutes. We review these two complementary techniques and their abilities for high-resolution structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia A Zatsepin
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Chufeng Li
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Paige Colasurd
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Brent L Nannenga
- Chemical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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50
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Andrusenko I, Hamilton V, Mugnaioli E, Lanza A, Hall C, Potticary J, Hall SR, Gemmi M. The Crystal Structure of Orthocetamol Solved by 3D Electron Diffraction. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201904564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Andrusenko
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NESTIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa Italy
| | - Victoria Hamilton
- Complex Functional Materials GroupSchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Bristol Centre for Functional NanomaterialsCentre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1FD UK
| | - Enrico Mugnaioli
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NESTIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa Italy
| | - Arianna Lanza
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NESTIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa Italy
| | - Charlie Hall
- Complex Functional Materials GroupSchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Centre for Doctoral Training in Condensed Matter PhysicsHH Wills Physics Laboratory Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
| | - Jason Potticary
- Complex Functional Materials GroupSchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Simon R. Hall
- Complex Functional Materials GroupSchool of ChemistryUniversity of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NESTIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa Italy
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