1
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Thompson MC. Combining temperature perturbations with X-ray crystallography to study dynamic macromolecules: A thorough discussion of experimental methods. Methods Enzymol 2023; 688:255-305. [PMID: 37748829 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is an important state variable that governs the behavior of microscopic systems, yet crystallographers rarely exploit temperature changes to study the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules. In fact, approximately 90% of crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank were determined under cryogenic conditions, because sample cryocooling makes crystals robust to X-ray radiation damage and facilitates data collection. On the other hand, cryocooling can introduce artifacts into macromolecular structures, and can suppress conformational dynamics that are critical for function. Fortunately, recent advances in X-ray detector technology, X-ray sources, and computational data processing algorithms make non-cryogenic X-ray crystallography easier and more broadly applicable than ever before. Without the reliance on cryocooling, high-resolution crystallography can be combined with various temperature perturbations to gain deep insight into the conformational landscapes of macromolecules. This Chapter reviews the historical reasons for the prevalence of cryocooling in macromolecular crystallography, and discusses its potential drawbacks. Next, the Chapter summarizes technological developments and methodologies that facilitate non-cryogenic crystallography experiments. Finally, the chapter discusses the theoretical underpinnings and practical aspects of multi-temperature and temperature-jump crystallography experiments, which are powerful tools for understanding the relationship between the structure, dynamics, and function of proteins and other biological macromolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States.
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2
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Saha S, Özden C, Samkutty A, Russi S, Cohen A, Stratton MM, Perry SL. Polymer-based microfluidic device for on-chip counter-diffusive crystallization and in situ X-ray crystallography at room temperature. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2075-2090. [PMID: 36942575 PMCID: PMC10631519 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01194h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are long chains of amino acid residues that perform a myriad of functions in living organisms, including enzymatic reactions, signalling, and maintaining structural integrity. Protein function is determined directly by the protein structure. X-ray crystallography is the primary technique for determining the 3D structure of proteins, and facilitates understanding the effects of protein structure on function. The first step towards structure determination is crystallizing the protein of interest. We have developed a centrifugally-actuated microfluidic device that incorporates the fluid handling and metering necessary for protein crystallization. Liquid handling takes advantage of surface forces to control fluid flow and enable metering, without the need for any fluidic or pump connections. Our approach requires only the simple steps of pipetting the crystallization reagents into the device followed by either spinning or shaking to set up counter-diffusive protein crystallization trials. The use of thin, UV-curable polymers with a high level of X-ray transparency allows for in situ X-ray crystallography, eliminating the manual handling of fragile protein crystals and streamlining the process of protein structure analysis. We demonstrate the utility of our device using hen egg white lysozyme as a model system, followed by the crystallization and in situ, room temperature structural analysis of the hub domain of calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMKIIβ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Saha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Can Özden
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Alfred Samkutty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Silvia Russi
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Aina Cohen
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Margaret M Stratton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Sarah L Perry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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3
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Liang M, Yu L, Wang Z, Zhou H, Zhang Y, Wang Q, He J. Novel combined crystallization plate for high-throughput crystal screening and in situ data collection at a crystallography beamline. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2021; 77:319-327. [PMID: 34473109 PMCID: PMC8411933 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21008104] [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: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In situ microplates are small in size, crystal cultivation and operation are difficult, and the efficiency of crystal screening is relatively low. To solve this problem, a novel combined crystallization plate was designed for high-throughput crystal cultivation and in situ data collection. A frame was used to hold 48 in situ microplates, and the in situ microplates were sealed on one side with an ultralow background-scattering Kapton film. An automatic liquid handler (Mosquito) was used to add a liquid drop to the in situ microplates in the frame, and CrystalClear HD tape was used to seal the frame. A sealed frame holding 48 microplates was developed as a novel combined crystallization plate and was used for crystal cultivation under different conditions and in situ data collection at the synchrotron beamline. Moreover, individual microplates can be separated from the combined crystal plate and then fixed on a magnetic base or loaded onto a UniPuck for in situ data collection. Automatic grid scanning was used to locate crystals. The efficiency of the combined crystallization plate for crystal screening was verified. This method avoids the manual manipulation of crystals during crystal screening and diffraction data collection; therefore, the combined crystallization plate is suitable for large-scale screening of microcrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Liang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huan Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qisheng Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianhua He
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People’s Republic of China
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4
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Sui S, Mulichak A, Kulathila R, McGee J, Filiatreault D, Saha S, Cohen A, Song J, Hung H, Selway J, Kirby C, Shrestha OK, Weihofen W, Fodor M, Xu M, Chopra R, Perry SL. A capillary-based microfluidic device enables primary high-throughput room-temperature crystallographic screening. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:1034-1046. [PMID: 34429718 PMCID: PMC8366422 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576721004155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel capillary-based microfluidic strategy to accelerate the process of small-molecule-compound screening by room-temperature X-ray crystallography using protein crystals is reported. The ultra-thin microfluidic devices are composed of a UV-curable polymer, patterned by cleanroom photolithography, and have nine capillary channels per chip. The chip was designed for ease of sample manipulation, sample stability and minimal X-ray background. 3D-printed frames and cassettes conforming to SBS standards are used to house the capillary chips, providing additional mechanical stability and compatibility with automated liquid- and sample-handling robotics. These devices enable an innovative in situ crystal-soaking screening workflow, akin to high-throughput compound screening, such that quantitative electron density maps sufficient to determine weak binding events are efficiently obtained. This work paves the way for adopting a room-temperature microfluidics-based sample delivery method at synchrotron sources to facilitate high-throughput protein-crystallography-based screening of compounds at high concentration with the aim of discovering novel binding events in an automated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Sui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Anne Mulichak
- IMCA-CAT, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA
| | | | - Joshua McGee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | - Sarthak Saha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Aina Cohen
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jinhu Song
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Selway
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Christina Kirby
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Om K. Shrestha
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Michelle Fodor
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mei Xu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rajiv Chopra
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah L. Perry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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5
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Ren Z, Wang C, Shin H, Bandara S, Kumarapperuma I, Ren MY, Kang W, Yang X. An automated platform for in situ serial crystallography at room temperature. IUCRJ 2020; 7:1009-1018. [PMID: 33209315 PMCID: PMC7642789 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520011288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Direct observation of functional motions in protein structures is highly desirable for understanding how these nanomachineries of life operate at the molecular level. Because cryogenic temperatures are non-physiological and may prohibit or even alter protein structural dynamics, it is necessary to develop robust X-ray diffraction methods that enable routine data collection at room temperature. We recently reported a crystal-on-crystal device to facilitate in situ diffraction of protein crystals at room temperature devoid of any sample manipulation. Here an automated serial crystallography platform based on this crystal-on-crystal technology is presented. A hardware and software prototype has been implemented, and protocols have been established that allow users to image, recognize and rank hundreds to thousands of protein crystals grown on a chip in optical scanning mode prior to serial introduction of these crystals to an X-ray beam in a programmable and high-throughput manner. This platform has been tested extensively using fragile protein crystals. We demonstrate that with affordable sample consumption, this in situ serial crystallography technology could give rise to room-temperature protein structures of higher resolution and superior map quality for those protein crystals that encounter difficulties during freezing. This serial data collection platform is compatible with both monochromatic oscillation and Laue methods for X-ray diffraction and presents a widely applicable approach for static and dynamic crystallographic studies at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Renz Research, Inc., Westmont, IL 60559, USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Heewhan Shin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Sepalika Bandara
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Indika Kumarapperuma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Michael Y. Ren
- A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Weijia Kang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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6
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Maeki M, Ito S, Takeda R, Ueno G, Ishida A, Tani H, Yamamoto M, Tokeshi M. Room-temperature crystallography using a microfluidic protein crystal array device and its application to protein-ligand complex structure analysis. Chem Sci 2020; 11:9072-9087. [PMID: 34094189 PMCID: PMC8162031 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02117b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Room-temperature (RT) protein crystallography provides significant information to elucidate protein function under physiological conditions. In particular, contrary to typical binding assays, X-ray crystal structure analysis of a protein–ligand complex can determine the three-dimensional (3D) configuration of its binding site. This allows the development of effective drugs by structure-based and fragment-based (FBDD) drug design. However, RT crystallography and RT crystallography-based protein–ligand complex analyses require the preparation and measurement of numerous crystals to avoid the X-ray radiation damage. Thus, for the application of RT crystallography to protein–ligand complex analysis, the simultaneous preparation of protein–ligand complex crystals and sequential X-ray diffraction measurement remain challenging. Here, we report an RT crystallography technique using a microfluidic protein crystal array device for protein–ligand complex structure analysis. We demonstrate the microfluidic sorting of protein crystals into microwells without any complicated procedures and apparatus, whereby the sorted protein crystals are fixed into microwells and sequentially measured to collect X-ray diffraction data. This is followed by automatic data processing to calculate the 3D protein structure. The microfluidic device allows the high-throughput preparation of the protein–ligand complex solely by the replacement of the microchannel content with the required ligand solution. We determined eight trypsin–ligand complex structures for the proof of concept experiment and found differences in the ligand coordination of the corresponding RT and conventional cryogenic structures. This methodology can be applied to easily obtain more natural structures. Moreover, drug development by FBDD could be more effective using the proposed methodology. Room temperature protein crystallography and its application to protein–ligand complex structure analysis was demonstrated using a microfluidic protein crystal array device.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Maeki
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8628 Japan +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6744.,RIKEN SPring-8 Center 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho Sayo-gun Hyogo 679-5148 Japan
| | - Sho Ito
- Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo 3-2-1 Kouto, Kamigori Ako Hyogo 678-1297 Japan.,ROD (Single Crystal Analysis) Group, Application Laboratories, Rigaku Corporation 3-9-12 Matubara-cho Akishima Tokyo 196-8666 Japan
| | - Reo Takeda
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8628 Japan
| | - Go Ueno
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho Sayo-gun Hyogo 679-5148 Japan
| | - Akihiko Ishida
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8628 Japan +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6744
| | - Hirofumi Tani
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8628 Japan +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6744
| | - Masaki Yamamoto
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho Sayo-gun Hyogo 679-5148 Japan.,Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo 3-2-1 Kouto, Kamigori Ako Hyogo 678-1297 Japan
| | - Manabu Tokeshi
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University Kita 13 Nishi 8, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8628 Japan +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6745 +81-11-706-6744
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7
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de Wijn R, Hennig O, Roche J, Engilberge S, Rollet K, Fernandez-Millan P, Brillet K, Betat H, Mörl M, Roussel A, Girard E, Mueller-Dieckmann C, Fox GC, Olieric V, Gavira JA, Lorber B, Sauter C. A simple and versatile microfluidic device for efficient biomacromolecule crystallization and structural analysis by serial crystallography. IUCRJ 2019; 6:454-464. [PMID: 31098026 PMCID: PMC6503916 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252519003622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Determining optimal conditions for the production of well diffracting crystals is a key step in every biocrystallography project. Here, a microfluidic device is described that enables the production of crystals by counter-diffusion and their direct on-chip analysis by serial crystallography at room temperature. Nine 'non-model' and diverse biomacromolecules, including seven soluble proteins, a membrane protein and an RNA duplex, were crystallized and treated on-chip with a variety of standard techniques including micro-seeding, crystal soaking with ligands and crystal detection by fluorescence. Furthermore, the crystal structures of four proteins and an RNA were determined based on serial data collected on four synchrotron beamlines, demonstrating the general applicability of this multipurpose chip concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël de Wijn
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Oliver Hennig
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Bruederstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jennifer Roche
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257 CNRS–Aix Marseille University, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | | | - Kevin Rollet
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pablo Fernandez-Millan
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Karl Brillet
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Heike Betat
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Bruederstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mario Mörl
- Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Bruederstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alain Roussel
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, UMR 7257 CNRS–Aix Marseille University, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Eric Girard
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Gavin C. Fox
- PROXIMA 2A beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L’Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vincent Olieric
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Swiss Light Source, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - José A. Gavira
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT, CSIC–Universidad de Granada, Avenida Las Palmeras 4, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Bernard Lorber
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Claude Sauter
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IBMC), Université de Strasbourg, 15 Rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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8
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Schmidt M. Time-Resolved Macromolecular Crystallography at Pulsed X-ray Sources. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061401. [PMID: 30897736 PMCID: PMC6470897 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The focus of structural biology is shifting from the determination of static structures to the investigation of dynamical aspects of macromolecular function. With time-resolved macromolecular crystallography (TRX), intermediates that form and decay during the macromolecular reaction can be investigated, as well as their reaction dynamics. Time-resolved crystallographic methods were initially developed at synchrotrons. However, about a decade ago, extremely brilliant, femtosecond-pulsed X-ray sources, the free electron lasers for hard X-rays, became available to a wider community. TRX is now possible with femtosecond temporal resolution. This review provides an overview of methodological aspects of TRX, and at the same time, aims to outline the frontiers of this method at modern pulsed X-ray sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Schmidt
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.
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9
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Grünbein ML, Nass Kovacs G. Sample delivery for serial crystallography at free-electron lasers and synchrotrons. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:178-191. [PMID: 30821706 PMCID: PMC6400261 DOI: 10.1107/s205979831801567x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The high peak brilliance and femtosecond pulse duration of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) provide new scientific opportunities for experiments in physics, chemistry and biology. In structural biology, one of the major applications is serial femtosecond crystallography. The intense XFEL pulse results in the destruction of any exposed microcrystal, making serial data collection mandatory. This requires a high-throughput serial approach to sample delivery. To this end, a number of such sample-delivery techniques have been developed, some of which have been ported to synchrotron sources, where they allow convenient low-dose data collection at room temperature. Here, the current sample-delivery techniques used at XFEL and synchrotron sources are reviewed, with an emphasis on liquid injection and high-viscosity extrusion, including their application for time-resolved experiments. The challenges associated with sample delivery at megahertz repetition-rate XFELs are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Luise Grünbein
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Nass Kovacs
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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10
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Methods for Determining and Understanding Serpin Structure and Function: X-Ray Crystallography. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2018; 1826:9-39. [PMID: 30194591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8645-3_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering the X-ray crystal structures of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) and serpin complexes has been an integral part of understanding serpin function and inhibitory mechanisms. In addition, high-resolution structural information of serpins derived from the three domains of life (bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic) and viruses has provided valuable insights into the hereditary and evolutionary history of this unique superfamily of proteins. This chapter will provide an overview of the predominant biophysical method that has yielded this information, X-ray crystallography. In addition, details of up-and-coming methods, such as neutron crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and small- and wide-angle solution scattering, and their potential applications to serpin structural biology will be briefly discussed. As serpins remain important both biologically and medicinally, the information provided in this chapter will aid in future experiments to expand our knowledge of this family of proteins.
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11
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Ren Z, Ayhan M, Bandara S, Bowatte K, Kumarapperuma I, Gunawardana S, Shin H, Wang C, Zeng X, Yang X. Crystal-on-crystal chips for in situ serial diffraction at room temperature. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2246-2256. [PMID: 29952383 PMCID: PMC6057835 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00489g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in serial crystallography at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) and synchrotrons have been driven by two scientific goals in structural biology - first, static structure determination from nano or microcrystals of membrane proteins and large complexes that are difficult for conventional cryocrystallography, and second, direct observations of transient structural species in biochemical reactions at near atomic resolution. Since room-temperature diffraction experiments naturally demand a large quantity of purified protein, sample economy is critically important for all steps of serial crystallography from crystallization, crystal delivery to data collection. Here we report the development and applications of "crystal-on-crystal" devices to facilitate large-scale in situ serial diffraction experiments on protein crystals of all sizes - large, small, or microscopic. We show that the monocrystalline quartz as a substrate material prevents vapor loss during crystallization and significantly reduces background X-ray scattering. These devices can be readily adopted at XFEL and synchrotron beamlines, which enable efficient delivery of hundreds to millions of crystals to the X-ray beam, with an overall protein consumption per dataset comparable to that of cryocrystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Ren
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Renz Research, Inc., Westmont, IL 60559, USA
- Corresponding authors: and
| | - Medine Ayhan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Sepalika Bandara
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Kalinga Bowatte
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Indika Kumarapperuma
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Semini Gunawardana
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Heewhan Shin
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xiaoli Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Corresponding authors: and
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12
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High-throughput in situ X-ray screening of and data collection from protein crystals at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions. Nat Protoc 2018; 13:260-292. [PMID: 29300389 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2017.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Protein crystallography has significantly advanced in recent years, with in situ data collection, in which crystals are placed in the X-ray beam within their growth medium, being a major point of focus. In situ methods eliminate the need to harvest crystals, a previously unavoidable drawback, particularly for often small membrane-protein crystals. Here, we present a protocol for the high-throughput in situ X-ray screening of and data collection from soluble and membrane-protein crystals at room temperature (20-25°C) and under cryogenic conditions. The Mylar in situ method uses Mylar-based film sandwich plates that are inexpensive, easy to make, and compatible with automated imaging, and that show very low background scattering. They support crystallization in microbatch and vapor-diffusion modes, as well as in lipidic cubic phases (LCPs). A set of 3D-printed holders for differently sized patches of Mylar sandwich films makes the method robust and versatile, allows for storage and shipping of crystals, and enables automated mounting at synchrotrons, as well as goniometer-based screening and data collection. The protocol covers preparation of in situ plates and setup of crystallization trials; 3D printing and assembly of holders; opening of plates, isolation of film patches containing crystals, and loading them onto holders; basic screening and data-collection guidelines; and unloading of holders, as well as reuse and recycling of them. In situ plates are prepared and assembled in 1 h; holders are 3D-printed and assembled in ≤90 min; and an in situ plate is opened, and a film patch containing crystals is isolated and loaded onto a holder in 5 min.
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13
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Šrajer V, Schmidt M. Watching Proteins Function with Time-resolved X-ray Crystallography. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D: APPLIED PHYSICS 2017; 50:373001. [PMID: 29353938 PMCID: PMC5771432 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aa7d32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography was immensely successful in the last two decades. To a large degree this success resulted from use of powerful third generation synchrotron X-ray sources. An expansive database of more than 100,000 protein structures, of which many were determined at resolution better than 2 Å, is available today. With this achievement, the spotlight in structural biology is shifting from determination of static structures to elucidating dynamic aspects of protein function. A powerful tool for addressing these aspects is time-resolved crystallography, where a genuine biological function is triggered in the crystal with a goal of capturing molecules in action and determining protein kinetics and structures of intermediates (Schmidt et al., 2005a; Schmidt 2008; Neutze and Moffat, 2012; Šrajer 2014). In this approach, short and intense X-ray pulses are used to probe intermediates in real time and at room temperature, in an ongoing reaction that is initiated synchronously and rapidly in the crystal. Time-resolved macromolecular crystallography with 100 ps time resolution at synchrotron X-ray sources is in its mature phase today, particularly for studies of reversible, light-initiated reactions. The advent of the new free electron lasers for hard X-rays (XFELs; 5-20 keV), which provide exceptionally intense, femtosecond X-ray pulses, marks a new frontier for time-resolved crystallography. The exploration of ultra-fast events becomes possible in high-resolution structural detail, on sub-picosecond time scales (Tenboer et al., 2014; Barends et al., 2015; Pande et al., 2016). We review here state-of-the-art time-resolved crystallographic experiments both at synchrotrons and XFELs. We also outline challenges and further developments necessary to broaden the application of these methods to many important proteins and enzymes of biomedical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vukica Šrajer
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Marius Schmidt
- Physics Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, IL, USA
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14
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Abstract
Time-resolved macromolecular crystallography unifies protein structure determination with chemical kinetics. With the advent of fourth generation X-ray sources the time-resolution can be on the order of 10-40 fs, which opens the ultrafast time scale to structure determination. Fundamental motions and transitions associated with chemical reactions in proteins can now be observed. Moreover, new experimental approaches at synchrotrons allow for the straightforward investigation of all kind of reactions in biological macromolecules. Here, recent developments in the field are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Schmidt
- Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research Complex, Physics Department, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Room 3087, 3135 North Maryland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, USA.
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15
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Broecker J, Klingel V, Ou WL, Balo AR, Kissick D, Ogata CM, Kuo A, Ernst OP. A Versatile System for High-Throughput In Situ X-ray Screening and Data Collection of Soluble and Membrane-Protein Crystals. CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2016; 16:6318-6326. [PMID: 28261000 PMCID: PMC5328415 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.6b00950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, in situ data collection has been a major focus of progress in protein crystallography. Here, we introduce the Mylar in situ method using Mylar-based sandwich plates that are inexpensive, easy to make and handle, and show significantly less background scattering than other setups. A variety of cognate holders for patches of Mylar in situ sandwich films corresponding to one or more wells makes the method robust and versatile, allows for storage and shipping of entire wells, and enables automated crystal imaging, screening, and goniometer-based X-ray diffraction data-collection at room temperature and under cryogenic conditions for soluble and membrane-protein crystals grown in or transferred to these plates. We validated the Mylar in situ method using crystals of the water-soluble proteins hen egg-white lysozyme and sperm whale myoglobin as well as the 7-transmembrane protein bacteriorhodopsin from Haloquadratum walsbyi. In conjunction with current developments at synchrotrons, this approach promises high-resolution structural studies of membrane proteins to become faster and more routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Broecker
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- E-mail:
| | - Viviane Klingel
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Wei-Lin Ou
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aidin R. Balo
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David
J. Kissick
- GM/CA
at Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National
Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Craig M. Ogata
- GM/CA
at Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National
Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Anling Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Oliver P. Ernst
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- E-mail:
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16
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Ghazal A, Lafleur JP, Mortensen K, Kutter JP, Arleth L, Jensen GV. Recent advances in X-ray compatible microfluidics for applications in soft materials and life sciences. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:4263-4295. [PMID: 27731448 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00888g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The increasingly narrow and brilliant beams at X-ray facilities reduce the requirements for both sample volume and data acquisition time. This creates new possibilities for the types and number of sample conditions that can be examined but simultaneously increases the demands in terms of sample preparation. Microfluidic-based sample preparation techniques have emerged as elegant alternatives that can be integrated directly into the experimental X-ray setup remedying several shortcomings of more traditional methods. We review the use of microfluidic devices in conjunction with X-ray measurements at synchrotron facilities in the context of 1) mapping large parameter spaces, 2) performing time resolved studies of mixing-induced kinetics, and 3) manipulating/processing samples in ways which are more demanding or not accessible on the macroscale. The review covers the past 15 years and focuses on applications where synchrotron data collection is performed in situ, i.e. directly on the microfluidic platform or on a sample jet from the microfluidic device. Considerations such as the choice of materials and microfluidic designs are addressed. The combination of microfluidic devices and measurements at large scale X-ray facilities is still emerging and far from mature, but it definitely offers an exciting array of new possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aghiad Ghazal
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Josiane P Lafleur
- Dept. of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kell Mortensen
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Jörg P Kutter
- Dept. of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Arleth
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Grethe V Jensen
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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17
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Sui S, Wang Y, Kolewe KW, Srajer V, Henning R, Schiffman JD, Dimitrakopoulos C, Perry SL. Graphene-based microfluidics for serial crystallography. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3082-96. [PMID: 27241728 PMCID: PMC4970872 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00451b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic strategies to enable the growth and subsequent serial crystallographic analysis of micro-crystals have the potential to facilitate both structural characterization and dynamic structural studies of protein targets that have been resistant to single-crystal strategies. However, adapting microfluidic crystallization platforms for micro-crystallography requires a dramatic decrease in the overall device thickness. We report a robust strategy for the straightforward incorporation of single-layer graphene into ultra-thin microfluidic devices. This architecture allows for a total material thickness of only ∼1 μm, facilitating on-chip X-ray diffraction analysis while creating a sample environment that is stable against significant water loss over several weeks. We demonstrate excellent signal-to-noise in our X-ray diffraction measurements using a 1.5 μs polychromatic X-ray exposure, and validate our approach via on-chip structure determination using hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) as a model system. Although this work is focused on the use of graphene for protein crystallography, we anticipate that this technology should find utility in a wide range of both X-ray and other lab on a chip applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Sui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Yuxi Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Kristopher W Kolewe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Vukica Srajer
- BioCARS Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Robert Henning
- BioCARS Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Jessica D Schiffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Christos Dimitrakopoulos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Sarah L Perry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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18
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Ren Z, Yang X. Angular-split/temporal-delay approach to ultrafast protein dynamics at XFELs. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2016; 72:871-82. [PMID: 27377384 PMCID: PMC6688658 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798316008573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
X-ray crystallography promises direct insights into electron-density changes that lead to and arise from structural changes such as electron and proton transfer and the formation, rupture and isomerization of chemical bonds. The ultrashort pulses of hard X-rays produced by free-electron lasers present an exciting opportunity for capturing ultrafast structural events in biological macromolecules within femtoseconds after photoexcitation. However, shot-to-shot fluctuations, which are inherent to the very process of self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) that generates the ultrashort X-ray pulses, are a major source of noise that may conceal signals from structural changes. Here, a new approach is proposed to angularly split a single SASE pulse and to produce a temporal delay of picoseconds between the split pulses. These split pulses will allow the probing of two distinct states before and after photoexcitation triggered by a laser pulse between the split X-ray pulses. The split pulses originate from a single SASE pulse and share many common properties; thus, noise arising from shot-to-shot fluctuations is self-canceling. The unambiguous interpretation of ultrafast structural changes would require diffraction data at atomic resolution, as these changes may or may not involve any atomic displacement. This approach, in combination with the strategy of serial crystallography, offers a solution to study ultrafast dynamics of light-initiated biochemical reactions or biological processes at atomic resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Ren
- Renz Research Inc., Westmont, IL 60559, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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19
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Gavira JA. Current trends in protein crystallization. Arch Biochem Biophys 2015; 602:3-11. [PMID: 26747744 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Proteins belong to the most complex colloidal system in terms of their physicochemical properties, size and conformational-flexibility. This complexity contributes to their great sensitivity to any external change and dictate the uncertainty of crystallization. The need of 3D models to understand their functionality and interaction mechanisms with other neighbouring (macro)molecules has driven the tremendous effort put into the field of crystallography that has also permeated other fields trying to shed some light into reluctant-to-crystallize proteins. This review is aimed at revising protein crystallization from a regular-laboratory point of view. It is also devoted to highlight the latest developments and achievements to produce, identify and deliver high-quality protein crystals for XFEL, Micro-ED or neutron diffraction. The low likelihood of protein crystallization is rationalized by considering the intrinsic polypeptide nature (folded state, surface charge, etc) followed by a description of the standard crystallization methods (batch, vapour diffusion and counter-diffusion), including high throughput advances. Other methodologies aimed at determining protein features in solution (NMR, SAS, DLS) or to gather structural information from single particles such as Cryo-EM are also discussed. Finally, current approaches showing the convergence of different structural biology techniques and the cross-methodologies adaptation to tackle the most difficult problems, are presented. SYNOPSIS Current advances in biomacromolecules crystallization, from nano crystals for XFEL and Micro-ED to large crystals for neutron diffraction, are covered with special emphasis in methodologies applicable at laboratory scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Gavira
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, IACT (CSIC-UGR), Avda. de las Palmeras, 4. 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
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20
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Pawate AS, Šrajer V, Schieferstein J, Guha S, Henning R, Kosheleva I, Schmidt M, Ren Z, Kenis PJA, Perry SL. Towards time-resolved serial crystallography in a microfluidic device. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:823-30. [PMID: 26144226 PMCID: PMC4498702 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x15009061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Serial methods for crystallography have the potential to enable dynamic structural studies of protein targets that have been resistant to single-crystal strategies. The use of serial data-collection strategies can circumvent challenges associated with radiation damage and repeated reaction initiation. This work utilizes a microfluidic crystallization platform for the serial time-resolved Laue diffraction analysis of macroscopic crystals of photoactive yellow protein (PYP). Reaction initiation was achieved via pulsed laser illumination, and the resultant electron-density difference maps clearly depict the expected pR(1)/pR(E46Q) and pR(2)/pR(CW) states at 10 µs and the pB1 intermediate at 1 ms. The strategies presented here have tremendous potential for extension to chemical triggering methods for reaction initiation and for extension to dynamic, multivariable analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashtamurthy S. Pawate
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Vukica Šrajer
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeremy Schieferstein
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Sudipto Guha
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Robert Henning
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, Illinois, USA
| | - Irina Kosheleva
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, Illinois, USA
| | - Marius Schmidt
- Department of Physics, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Zhong Ren
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, The University of Chicago, Argonne, Illinois, USA
- Renz Research Inc., Westmont, Illinois, USA
| | - Paul J. A. Kenis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Sarah L. Perry
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Panneels V, Wu W, Tsai CJ, Nogly P, Rheinberger J, Jaeger K, Cicchetti G, Gati C, Kick LM, Sala L, Capitani G, Milne C, Padeste C, Pedrini B, Li XD, Standfuss J, Abela R, Schertler G. Time-resolved structural studies with serial crystallography: A new light on retinal proteins. STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (MELVILLE, N.Y.) 2015; 2:041718. [PMID: 26798817 PMCID: PMC4711639 DOI: 10.1063/1.4922774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Structural information of the different conformational states of the two prototypical light-sensitive membrane proteins, bacteriorhodopsin and rhodopsin, has been obtained in the past by X-ray cryo-crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. However, these methods do not allow for the structure determination of most intermediate conformations. Recently, the potential of X-Ray Free Electron Lasers (X-FELs) for tracking the dynamics of light-triggered processes by pump-probe serial femtosecond crystallography has been demonstrated using 3D-micron-sized crystals. In addition, X-FELs provide new opportunities for protein 2D-crystal diffraction, which would allow to observe the course of conformational changes of membrane proteins in a close-to-physiological lipid bilayer environment. Here, we describe the strategies towards structural dynamic studies of retinal proteins at room temperature, using injector or fixed-target based serial femtosecond crystallography at X-FELs. Thanks to recent progress especially in sample delivery methods, serial crystallography is now also feasible at synchrotron X-ray sources, thus expanding the possibilities for time-resolved structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Panneels
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Wenting Wu
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Ching-Ju Tsai
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Przemek Nogly
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Jan Rheinberger
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Jaeger
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Gregor Cicchetti
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | | | - Leonhard M Kick
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Sala
- Scientific Computing, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Guido Capitani
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Chris Milne
- SwissFEL Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Celestino Padeste
- Lab for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Bill Pedrini
- SwissFEL Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Xiao-Dan Li
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Standfuss
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Abela
- SwissFEL Paul Scherrer Institute , 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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22
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Huang CY, Olieric V, Ma P, Panepucci E, Diederichs K, Wang M, Caffrey M. In meso in situ serial X-ray crystallography of soluble and membrane proteins. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA. SECTION D, BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2015; 71:1238-56. [PMID: 26057665 PMCID: PMC4461204 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004715005210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The lipid cubic phase (LCP) continues to grow in popularity as a medium in which to generate crystals of membrane (and soluble) proteins for high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure determination. To date, the PDB includes 227 records attributed to the LCP or in meso method. Among the listings are some of the highest profile membrane proteins, including the β2-adrenoreceptor-Gs protein complex that figured in the award of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Lefkowitz and Kobilka. The most successful in meso protocol to date uses glass sandwich crystallization plates. Despite their many advantages, glass plates are challenging to harvest crystals from. However, performing in situ X-ray diffraction measurements with these plates is not practical. Here, an alternative approach is described that provides many of the advantages of glass plates and is compatible with high-throughput in situ measurements. The novel in meso in situ serial crystallography (IMISX) method introduced here has been demonstrated with AlgE and PepT (alginate and peptide transporters, respectively) as model integral membrane proteins and with lysozyme as a test soluble protein. Structures were solved by molecular replacement and by experimental phasing using bromine SAD and native sulfur SAD methods to resolutions ranging from 1.8 to 2.8 Å using single-digit microgram quantities of protein. That sulfur SAD phasing worked is testament to the exceptional quality of the IMISX diffraction data. The IMISX method is compatible with readily available, inexpensive materials and equipment, is simple to implement and is compatible with high-throughput in situ serial data collection at macromolecular crystallography synchrotron beamlines worldwide. Because of its simplicity and effectiveness, the IMISX approach is likely to supplant existing in meso crystallization protocols. It should prove particularly attractive in the area of ligand screening for drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ying Huang
- Membrane Structural and Functional Biology Group, Schools of Medicine and Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vincent Olieric
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Pikyee Ma
- Membrane Structural and Functional Biology Group, Schools of Medicine and Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ezequiel Panepucci
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Kay Diederichs
- Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, M647, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Meitian Wang
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Martin Caffrey
- Membrane Structural and Functional Biology Group, Schools of Medicine and Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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23
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Dejoie C, Smeets S, Baerlocher C, Tamura N, Pattison P, Abela R, McCusker LB. Serial snapshot crystallography for materials science with SwissFEL. IUCRJ 2015; 2:361-70. [PMID: 25995845 PMCID: PMC4420546 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252515006740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
New opportunities for studying (sub)microcrystalline materials with small unit cells, both organic and inorganic, will open up when the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) presently being constructed in Switzerland (SwissFEL) comes online in 2017. Our synchrotron-based experiments mimicking the 4%-energy-bandpass mode of the SwissFEL beam show that it will be possible to record a diffraction pattern of up to 10 randomly oriented crystals in a single snapshot, to index the resulting reflections, and to extract their intensities reliably. The crystals are destroyed with each XFEL pulse, but by combining snapshots from several sets of crystals, a complete set of data can be assembled, and crystal structures of materials that are difficult to analyze otherwise will become accessible. Even with a single shot, at least a partial analysis of the crystal structure will be possible, and with 10-50 femtosecond pulses, this offers tantalizing possibilities for time-resolved studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Dejoie
- Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Stef Smeets
- Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Christian Baerlocher
- Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Nobumichi Tamura
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Philip Pattison
- Swiss-Norwegian Beamlines, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, 38042, France
- Laboratory of Crystallography, EPFL, Rte de la Sorge, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Abela
- SwissFEL, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Lynne B. McCusker
- Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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