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Jones AA, Snow CD. Porous protein crystals: synthesis and applications. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:5790-5803. [PMID: 38756076 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc00183d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Large-pore protein crystals (LPCs) are an emerging class of biomaterials. The inherent diversity of proteins translates to a diversity of crystal lattice structures, many of which display large pores and solvent channels. These pores can, in turn, be functionalized via directed evolution and rational redesign based on the known crystal structures. LPCs possess extremely high solvent content, as well as extremely high surface area to volume ratios. Because of these characteristics, LPCs continue to be explored in diverse applications including catalysis, targeted therapeutic delivery, templating of nanostructures, structural biology. This Feature review article will describe several of the existing platforms in detail, with particular focus on LPC synthesis approaches and reported applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Arthur Jones
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1301, USA.
| | - Christopher D Snow
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1301, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1301, USA
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2
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Dynamic Light Scattering: A Powerful Tool for In Situ Nanoparticle Sizing. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids7010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to surface effects and quantum size effects, nanomaterials have properties that are vastly different from those of bulk materials due to surface effects. The particle size distribution plays an important role in chemical and physical properties. The measurement and control of this parameter are crucial for nanomaterial synthesis. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a fast and non-invasive tool used to measure particle size, size distribution and stability in solutions or suspensions during nanomaterial preparation. In this review, we focus on the in situ sizing of nanomaterial preparation in the form of colloids, especially for metal oxide nanoparticles (MONs). The measuring principle, including an overview of sizing techniques, advantages and limitations and theories of DLS were first discussed. The instrument design was then investigated. Ex-situ and in situ configuration of DLS, sample preparations, measurement conditions and reaction cell design for in situ configuration were studied. The MONs preparation monitored by DLS was presented, taking into consideration both ex situ and in situ configuration.
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3
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Deniz F, Ertekin K, Ulucan U. Quantification of airborne concentrations of micro-scale and submicron phosphors in the manufacturing environment by spectrofluorometric method. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02440-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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4
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Ahn B, Chen M, Mazzotti M. Online Monitoring of the Concentrations of Amorphous and Crystalline Mesoscopic Species Present in Solution. CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2022; 22:5071-5080. [PMID: 35942122 PMCID: PMC9354028 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.2c00577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the growing evidence for the existence of amorphous mesoscopic species in a solution and their crucial roles in crystallization, there has been the lack of a suitable method to measure the time-resolved concentrations of amorphous and crystalline mesospecies in a lab-scale stirred reactor. This has limited experimental investigations to understand the kinetics of amorphous and crystalline mesospecies formation in stirred solutions and made it challenging to measure the crystal nucleation rate directly. Here, we used depolarized light sheet microscopy to achieve time-resolved measurements of amorphous and crystalline mesospecies concentrations in solutions at varying temperatures. After demonstrating that the concentration measurement method is reasonably accurate, precise, and sensitive, we utilized this method to examine mesospecies formation both in a mixture of two miscible liquids and in an undersaturated solution of dl-valine, thus revealing the importance of a temperature change in the formation of metastable and amorphous mesospecies as well as the reproducibility of the measurements. Moreover, we used the presented method to monitor both mesospecies formation and crystal nucleation in dl-valine solutions at four different levels of supersaturation, while achieving the direct measurement of the crystal nucleation rates in stirred solutions. Our results show that, as expected, the inherent variability in nucleation originating from its stochastic nature reduces with increasing supersaturation, and the dependence of the measured nucleation rate on supersaturation is in reasonable agreement with that predicted by the classical nucleation theory.
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5
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Exploring Nucleation Pathways in Distinct Physicochemical Environments Unveiling Novel Options to Modulate and Optimize Protein Crystallization. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The scientific discussion about classical and nonclassical nucleation theories has lasted for two decades so far. Recently, multiple nucleation pathways and the occurrence and role of metastable intermediates in crystallization processes have attracted increasing attention, following the discovery of functional phase separation, which is now under investigation in different fields of cellular life sciences, providing interesting and novel aspects for conventional crystallization experiments. In this context, more systematic investigations need to be carried out to extend the current knowledge about nucleation processes. In terms of the data we present, a well-studied model protein, glucose isomerase (GI), was employed first to investigate systematically the early stages of the crystallization process, covering condensing and prenucleation ordering of protein molecules in diverse scenarios, including varying ionic and crowding agent conditions, as well as the application of a pulsed electric field (pEF). The main method used to characterize the early events of nucleation was synchronized polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering (DLS/DDLS), which is capable of collecting the polarized and depolarized component of scattered light from a sample suspension in parallel, thus monitoring the time-resolved evolution of the condensation and geometrical ordering of proteins at the early stages of nucleation. A diffusion interaction parameter, KD, of GI under varying salt conditions was evaluated to discuss how the proportion of specific and non-specific protein–protein interactions affects the nucleation process. The effect of mesoscopic ordered clusters (MOCs) on protein crystallization was explored further by adding different ratios of MOCs induced by a pEF to fresh GI droplets in solution with different PEG concentrations. To emphasize and complement the data and results obtained with GI, a recombinant pyridoxal 5-phosphate (vitamin B6) synthase (Pdx) complex of Staphylococcus aureus assembled from twelve monomers of Pdx1 and twelve monomers of Pdx2 was employed to validate the ability of the pEF influencing the nucleation of complex macromolecules and the effect of MOCs on adjusting the crystallization pathway. In summary, our data revealed multiple nucleation pathways by tuning the proportion of specific and non-specific protein interactions, or by utilizing a pEF which turned out to be efficient to accelerate the nucleation process. Finally, a novel and reproducible experimental strategy, which can adjust and facilitate a crystallization process by pEF-induced MOCs, was summarized and reported for the first time.
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Han H, Round E, Schubert R, Gül Y, Makroczyová J, Meza D, Heuser P, Aepfelbacher M, Barák I, Betzel C, Fromme P, Kursula I, Nissen P, Tereschenko E, Schulz J, Uetrecht C, Ulicný J, Wilmanns M, Hajdu J, Lamzin VS, Lorenzen K. The XBI BioLab for life science experiments at the European XFEL. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:7-21. [PMID: 33833637 PMCID: PMC7941304 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720013989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The science of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) critically depends on the performance of the X-ray laser and on the quality of the samples placed into the X-ray beam. The stability of biological samples is limited and key biomolecular transformations occur on short timescales. Experiments in biology require a support laboratory in the immediate vicinity of the beamlines. The XBI BioLab of the European XFEL (XBI denotes XFEL Biology Infrastructure) is an integrated user facility connected to the beamlines for supporting a wide range of biological experiments. The laboratory was financed and built by a collaboration between the European XFEL and the XBI User Consortium, whose members come from Finland, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Sweden and the USA, with observers from Denmark and the Russian Federation. Arranged around a central wet laboratory, the XBI BioLab provides facilities for sample preparation and scoring, laboratories for growing prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, a Bio Safety Level 2 laboratory, sample purification and characterization facilities, a crystallization laboratory, an anaerobic laboratory, an aerosol laboratory, a vacuum laboratory for injector tests, and laboratories for optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy. Here, an overview of the XBI facility is given and some of the results of the first user experiments are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijong Han
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Ekaterina Round
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Schubert
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yasmin Gül
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jana Makroczyová
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 21, 845 51 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Domingo Meza
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Philipp Heuser
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Aepfelbacher
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Imrich Barák
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 21, 845 51 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Christian Betzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI), Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Fromme
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery and School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Inari Kursula
- Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Aapistie 7, 90220 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Poul Nissen
- DANDRITE, Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, DK – 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Elena Tereschenko
- Institute of Crystallography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 59 Leninsky prospekt, Moscow, 117333, Russian Federation
| | - Joachim Schulz
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Charlotte Uetrecht
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Martinistrasse 52, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jozef Ulicný
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Jesenná 5, 04154 Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janos Hajdu
- The European Extreme Light Infrastructure, Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Za Radnici 835, 25241 Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3 (Box 596), SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Victor S. Lamzin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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7
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Cheng QD, Chung HY, Schubert R, Chia SH, Falke S, Mudogo CN, Kärtner FX, Chang G, Betzel C. Protein-crystal detection with a compact multimodal multiphoton microscope. Commun Biol 2020; 3:569. [PMID: 33051587 PMCID: PMC7553921 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01275-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing demand for rapid, effective methods to identify and detect protein micro- and nano-crystal suspensions for serial diffraction data collection at X-ray free-electron lasers or high-intensity micro-focus synchrotron radiation sources. Here, we demonstrate a compact multimodal, multiphoton microscope, driven by a fiber-based ultrafast laser, enabling excitation wavelengths at 775 nm and 1300 nm for nonlinear optical imaging, which simultaneously records second-harmonic generation, third-harmonic generation and three-photon excited ultraviolet fluorescence to identify and detect protein crystals with high sensitivity. The instrument serves as a valuable and important tool supporting sample scoring and sample optimization in biomolecular crystallography, which we hope will increase the capabilities and productivity of serial diffraction data collection in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-di Cheng
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hsiang-Yu Chung
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin Schubert
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- XFEL Biological Infrastructure Laboratory at the European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Shih-Hsuan Chia
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Falke
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Celestin Nzanzu Mudogo
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franz X Kärtner
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
- Physics Department, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Guoqing Chang
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Christian Betzel
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Wang M, Falke S, Schubert R, Lorenzen K, Cheng QD, Exner C, Brognaro H, Mudogo CN, Betzel C. Pulsed electric fields induce modulation of protein liquid-liquid phase separation. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:8547-8553. [PMID: 32909579 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01478h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The time-resolved dynamic assembly and the structures of protein liquid dense clusters (LDCs) were analyzed under pulsed electric fields (EFs) applying complementary polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering (DLS/DDLS), optical microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We discovered that pulsed EFs substantially affected overall morphologies and spatial distributions of protein LDCs and microcrystals, and affected the phase diagrams of LDC formation, including enabling protein solutions to overcome the diffusive flux energy barrier to phase separate. Data obtained from DLS/DDLS and TEM showed that LDCs appeared as precursors of protein crystal nuclei, followed by the formation of ordered structures within LDCs applying a pulsed EF. Experimental results of circular dichroism spectroscopy provided evidence that the protein secondary structure content is changing under EFs, which may consequently modulate protein-protein interactions, and the morphology, dimensions, and internal structure of LDCs. Data and results obtained unveil options to modulate the phase diagram of crystallization, and physical morphologies of protein LDCs and microcrystals by irradiating sample suspensions with pulsed EFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Sven Falke
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Robin Schubert
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Qing-di Cheng
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Christian Exner
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Hévila Brognaro
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Célestin Nzanzu Mudogo
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Christian Betzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.
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9
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Multi-Step Concanavalin A Phase Separation and Early-Stage Nucleation Monitored Via Dynamic and Depolarized Light Scattering. CRYSTALS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst9120620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein phase separation and protein liquid cluster formation have been observed and analysed in protein crystallization experiments and, in recent years, have been reported more frequently, especially in studies related to membraneless organelles and protein cluster formation in cells. A detailed understanding about the phase separation process preceding liquid dense cluster formation will elucidate what has, so far, been poorly understood—despite intracellular crowding and phase separation being very common processes—and will also provide more insights into the early events of in vitro protein crystallization. In this context, the phase separation and crystallization kinetics of concanavalin A were analysed in detail, which applies simultaneous dynamic light scattering and depolarized dynamic light scattering to obtain insights into metastable intermediate states between the soluble phase and the crystalline form. A multi-step mechanism was identified for ConA phase separation, according to the resultant ACF decay, acquired after an increase in the concentration of the crowding agent until a metastable ConA gel intermediate between the soluble and final crystalline phases was observed. The obtained results also revealed that ConA is trapped in a macromolecular network due to short-range intermolecular protein interactions and is unable to transform back into a non-ergodic solution.
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Abstract
Focus a laser on dissolved particles and analyze the scattered light to reveal their size. This well established principle is used in dynamic light scattering (DLS), or also called photon-correlation spectroscopy, which is a widely popular and highly adaptable analytical method applied in different fields of life and material sciences, as well as in industrial quality control processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice S. Pereira
- grid.10772.330000000121511713Molecular Biophysics Lab., UCIBIO/Requimte, Department of Chemistry, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Pedro Tavares
- grid.10772.330000000121511713Molecular Biophysics Lab., UCIBIO/Requimte, Department of Chemistry, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Paulo Limão-Vieira
- grid.10772.330000000121511713Atomic and Molecular Collisions Laboratory, CEFITEC, Department of Physics, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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11
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Falke S, Dierks K, Blanchet C, Graewert M, Cipriani F, Meijers R, Svergun D, Betzel C. Multi-channel in situ dynamic light scattering instrumentation enhancing biological small-angle X-ray scattering experiments at the PETRA III beamline P12. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2018; 25:361-372. [PMID: 29488914 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577517017568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of biomolecules is increasingly common with a constantly high demand for comprehensive and efficient sample quality control prior to SAXS experiments. As monodisperse sample suspensions are desirable for SAXS experiments, latest dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques are most suited to obtain non-invasive and rapid information about the particle size distribution of molecules in solution. A multi-receiver four-channel DLS system was designed and adapted at the BioSAXS endstation of the EMBL beamline P12 at PETRA III (DESY, Hamburg, Germany). The system allows the collection of DLS data within round-shaped sample capillaries used at beamline P12. Data obtained provide information about the hydrodynamic radius of biological particles in solution and dispersity of the solution. DLS data can be collected directly prior to and during an X-ray exposure. To match the short X-ray exposure times of around 1 s for 20 exposures at P12, the DLS data collection periods that have been used up to now of 20 s or commonly more were substantially reduced, using a novel multi-channel approach collecting DLS data sets in the SAXS sample capillary at four different neighbouring sample volume positions in parallel. The setup allows online scoring of sample solutions applied for SAXS experiments, supports SAXS data evaluation and for example indicates local inhomogeneities in a sample solution in a time-efficient manner. Biological macromolecules with different molecular weights were applied to test the system and obtain information about the performance. All measured hydrodynamic radii are in good agreement with DLS results obtained by employing a standard cuvette instrument. Moreover, applying the new multi-channel DLS setup, a reliable radius determination of sample solutions in flow, at flow rates normally used for size-exclusion chromatography-SAXS experiments, and at higher flow rates, was verified as well. This study also shows and confirms that the newly designed sample compartment with attached DLS instrumentation does not disturb SAXS measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Falke
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22603, Germany
| | - Karsten Dierks
- Xtal Concepts GmbH, Marlowring 19, Hamburg 22525, Germany
| | - Clement Blanchet
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Melissa Graewert
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Florent Cipriani
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Rob Meijers
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Dmitri Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation, c/o Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Christian Betzel
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, University Hamburg, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestrasse 85, Hamburg 22603, Germany
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12
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Lee DB, Kim JM, Seok JH, Lee JH, Jo JD, Mun JY, Conrad C, Coe J, Nelson G, Hogue B, White TA, Zatsepin N, Weierstall U, Barty A, Chapman H, Fromme P, Spence J, Chung MS, Oh CH, Kim KH. Supersaturation-controlled microcrystallization and visualization analysis for serial femtosecond crystallography. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2541. [PMID: 29416086 PMCID: PMC5803221 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20899-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography with X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) holds the potential to view fast reactions occurring at near-physiological temperature. However, production and characterization of homogeneous micron-sized protein crystals at high density remain a bottleneck, due to the lack of the necessary equipments in ordinary laboratories. We describe here supersaturation-controlled microcrystallization and visualization and analysis tools that can be easily used in any laboratory. The microcrystallization conditions of the influenza virus hemagglutinin were initially obtained with low reproducibility, which was improved by employing a rapid evaporation of hanging drops. Supersaturation-controlled microcrystallization was then developed in a vapor diffusion mode, where supersaturation was induced by evaporation in hanging drops sequentially for durations ranging from 30 sec to 3 min, depending on the protein. It was applied successfully to the microcrystal formation of lysozyme, ferritin and hemagglutinin with high density. Moreover, visualization and analysis tools were developed to characterize the microcrystals observed by light microscopy. The size and density distributions of microcrystals analyzed by the tools were found to be consistent with the results of manual analysis, further validated by high-resolution microscopic analyses. Our supersaturation-controlled microcrystallization and visualization and analysis tools will provide universal access to successful XFEL studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Bi Lee
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
| | - Jong-Min Kim
- Department of Electronics & Information Engineering, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
| | - Jong Hyeon Seok
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Lee
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
| | - Jae Deok Jo
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Korea
| | - Ji Young Mun
- Department of Structure and Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Korea
| | - Chelsie Conrad
- Department of Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Jesse Coe
- Department of Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Garrett Nelson
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Brenda Hogue
- Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Thomas A White
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadia Zatsepin
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Uwe Weierstall
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Anton Barty
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Henry Chapman
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Fromme
- Department of Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - John Spence
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Mi Sook Chung
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chang-Hyun Oh
- Department of Electronics & Information Engineering, Korea University, Sejong, Korea.
| | - Kyung Hyun Kim
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong, Korea.
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Giegé R. What macromolecular crystallogenesis tells us - what is needed in the future. IUCRJ 2017; 4:340-349. [PMID: 28875021 PMCID: PMC5571797 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252517006595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Crystallogenesis is a longstanding topic that has transformed into a discipline that is mainly focused on the preparation of crystals for practising crystallo-graphers. Although the idiosyncratic features of proteins have to be taken into account, the crystallization of proteins is governed by the same physics as the crystallization of inorganic materials. At present, a diversified panel of crystallization methods adapted to proteins has been validated, and although only a few methods are in current practice, the success rate of crystallization has increased constantly, leading to the determination of ∼105 X-ray structures. These structures reveal a huge repertoire of protein folds, but they only cover a restricted part of macromolecular diversity across the tree of life. In the future, crystals representative of missing structures or that will better document the structural dynamics and functional steps underlying biological processes need to be grown. For the pertinent choice of biologically relevant targets, computer-guided analysis of structural databases is needed. From another perspective, crystallization is a self-assembly process that can occur in the bulk of crowded fluids, with crystals being supramolecular assemblies. Life also uses self-assembly and supramolecular processes leading to transient, or less often stable, complexes. An integrated view of supramolecularity implies that proteins crystallizing either in vitro or in vivo or participating in cellular processes share common attributes, notably determinants and antideterminants that favour or disfavour their correct or incorrect associations. As a result, under in vivo conditions proteins show a balance between features that favour or disfavour association. If this balance is broken, disorders/diseases occur. Understanding crystallization under in vivo conditions is a challenge for the future. In this quest, the analysis of packing contacts and contacts within oligomers will be crucial in order to decipher the rules governing protein self-assembly and will guide the engineering of novel biomaterials. In a wider perspective, understanding such contacts will open the route towards supramolecular biology and generalized crystallogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Giegé
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, Université de Strasbourg and CNRS, F-67084 Strasbourg, France
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14
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Ferreira C, Barbosa S, Taboada P, Rocha FA, Damas AM, Martins PM. The nucleation of protein crystals as a race against time with on- and off-pathways. J Appl Crystallogr 2017. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576717007312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
High supersaturation levels are a necessary but insufficient condition for the crystallization of purified proteins. Unlike most small molecules, proteins can take diverse aggregation pathways that make the outcome of crystallization assays quite unpredictable. Here, dynamic light scattering and optical microscopy were used to show that the nucleation of lysozyme crystals is preceded by an initial step of protein oligomerization and by the progressive formation of metastable clusters. Because these steps deplete the concentration of soluble monomers, the probability of obtaining protein crystals decreases as time progresses. Stochastic variations of the induction time are thus amplified to a point where fast crystallization can coexist with unyielding regimes in the same conditions. With an initial hydrodynamic radius of ∼100 nm, the metastable clusters also promote the formation of protein crystals through a mechanism of heterogeneous nucleation. Crystal growth (on-pathway) takes place in parallel with cluster growth (off-pathway). The Janus-faced influence of the mesoscopic clusters is beneficial when it accelerates the formation of the first precrystalline nuclei and is detrimental as it depletes the solution of protein ready to crystallize. Choosing the right balance between the two effects is critical for determining the success of protein crystallization trials. The results presented here suggest that a mild oligomerization degree promotes the formation of a small number of metastable clusters which then catalyze the nucleation of well differentiated crystals.
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15
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Dow XY, Dettmar CM, DeWalt EL, Newman JA, Dow AR, Roy-Chowdhury S, Coe JD, Kupitz C, Fromme P, Simpson GJ. Second harmonic generation correlation spectroscopy for characterizing translationally diffusing protein nanocrystals. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2016; 72:849-59. [PMID: 27377382 PMCID: PMC4932918 DOI: 10.1107/s205979831600841x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Second harmonic generation correlation spectroscopy (SHG-CS) is demonstrated as a new approach to protein nanocrystal characterization. A novel line-scanning approach was performed to enable autocorrelation analysis without sample damage from the intense incident beam. An analytical model for autocorrelation was developed, which includes a correction for the optical scattering forces arising when focusing intense, infrared beams. SHG-CS was applied to the analysis of BaTiO3 nanoparticles ranging from 200 to ∼500 nm and of photosystem I nanocrystals. A size distribution was recovered for each sample and compared with the size histogram measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Good agreement was observed between the two independent measurements. The intrinsic selectivity of the second-order nonlinear optical process provides SHG-CS with the ability to distinguish well ordered nanocrystals from conglomerates and amorphous aggregates. Combining the recovered distribution of particle diameters with the histogram of measured SHG intensities provides the inherent hyperpolarizability per unit volume of the SHG-active nanoparticles. Simulations suggest that the SHG activity per unit volume is likely to exhibit relatively low sensitivity to the subtle distortions within the lattice that contribute to resolution loss in X-ray diffraction, but high sensitivity to the presence of multi-domain crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximeng Y. Dow
- Chemistry Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Emma L. DeWalt
- Chemistry Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Justin A. Newman
- Chemistry Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Alexander R. Dow
- Chemistry Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Shatabdi Roy-Chowdhury
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Jesse D. Coe
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Christopher Kupitz
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA
| | - Petra Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA
| | - Garth J. Simpson
- Chemistry Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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16
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Martin-Garcia JM, Conrad CE, Coe J, Roy-Chowdhury S, Fromme P. Serial femtosecond crystallography: A revolution in structural biology. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 602:32-47. [PMID: 27143509 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography at synchrotron sources has proven to be the most influential method within structural biology, producing thousands of structures since its inception. While its utility has been instrumental in progressing our knowledge of structures of molecules, it suffers from limitations such as the need for large, well-diffracting crystals, and radiation damage that can hamper native structural determination. The recent advent of X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) and their implementation in the emerging field of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) has given rise to a remarkable expansion upon existing crystallographic constraints, allowing structural biologists access to previously restricted scientific territory. SFX relies on exceptionally brilliant, micro-focused X-ray pulses, which are femtoseconds in duration, to probe nano/micrometer sized crystals in a serial fashion. This results in data sets comprised of individual snapshots, each capturing Bragg diffraction of single crystals in random orientations prior to their subsequent destruction. Thus structural elucidation while avoiding radiation damage, even at room temperature, can now be achieved. This emerging field has cultivated new methods for nanocrystallogenesis, sample delivery, and data processing. Opportunities and challenges within SFX are reviewed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Martin-Garcia
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Chelsie E Conrad
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Jesse Coe
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Shatabdi Roy-Chowdhury
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA
| | - Petra Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1604, USA; Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-7401, USA.
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17
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Barnes CO, Kovaleva EG, Fu X, Stevenson HP, Brewster AS, DePonte DP, Baxter EL, Cohen AE, Calero G. Assessment of microcrystal quality by transmission electron microscopy for efficient serial femtosecond crystallography. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 602:61-68. [PMID: 26944553 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) employing high-intensity X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) sources has enabled structural studies on microcrystalline protein samples at non-cryogenic temperatures. However, the identification and optimization of conditions that produce well diffracting microcrystals remains an experimental challenge. Here, we report parallel SFX and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments using fragmented microcrystals of wild type (WT) homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (HPCD) and an active site variant (H200Q). Despite identical crystallization conditions and morphology, as well as similar crystal size and density, the indexing efficiency of the diffraction data collected using the H200Q variant sample was over 7-fold higher compared to the diffraction results obtained using the WT sample. TEM analysis revealed an abundance of protein aggregates, crystal conglomerates and a smaller population of highly ordered lattices in the WT sample as compared to the H200Q variant sample. While not reported herein, the 1.75 Å resolution structure of the H200Q variant was determined from ∼16 min of beam time, demonstrating the utility of TEM analysis in evaluating sample monodispersity and lattice quality, parameters critical to the efficiency of SFX experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O Barnes
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Elena G Kovaleva
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Fu
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Hilary P Stevenson
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Aaron S Brewster
- Molecular Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | | | - Aina E Cohen
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Guillermo Calero
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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