1
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Carrillo M, Mason TJ, Karpik A, Martiel I, Kepa MW, McAuley KE, Beale JH, Padeste C. Micro-structured polymer fixed targets for serial crystallography at synchrotrons and XFELs. IUCRJ 2023; 10:678-693. [PMID: 37727961 PMCID: PMC10619457 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252523007595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Fixed targets are a popular form of sample-delivery system used in serial crystallography at synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser sources. They offer a wide range of sample-preparation options and are generally easy to use. The supports are typically made from silicon, quartz or polymer. Of these, currently, only silicon offers the ability to perform an aperture-aligned data collection where crystals are loaded into cavities in precise locations and sequentially rastered through, in step with the X-ray pulses. The polymer-based fixed targets have lacked the precision fabrication to enable this data-collection strategy and have been limited to directed-raster scans with crystals randomly distributed across the polymer surface. Here, the fabrication and first results from a new polymer-based fixed target, the micro-structured polymer fixed targets (MISP chips), are presented. MISP chips, like those made from silicon, have a precise array of cavities and fiducial markers. They consist of a structured polymer membrane and a stabilization frame. Crystals can be loaded into the cavities and the excess crystallization solution removed through apertures at their base. The fiducial markers allow for a rapid calculation of the aperture locations. The chips have a low X-ray background and, since they are optically transparent, also allow for an a priori analysis of crystal locations. This location mapping could, ultimately, optimize hit rates towards 100%. A black version of the MISP chip was produced to reduce light contamination for optical-pump/X-ray probe experiments. A study of the loading properties of the chips reveals that these types of fixed targets are best optimized for crystals of the order of 25 µm, but quality data can be collected from crystals as small as 5 µm. With the development of these chips, it has been proved that polymer-based fixed targets can be made with the precision required for aperture-alignment-based data-collection strategies. Further work can now be directed towards more cost-effective mass fabrication to make their use more sustainable for serial crystallography facilities and users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Carrillo
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- Swiss Nanoscience Institute, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas J. Mason
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Agnieszka Karpik
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
- Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology (INKA), FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Engineering, Klosterzelgstrasse 2, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Martiel
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Michal W. Kepa
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - John H. Beale
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Celestino Padeste
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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2
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Welke N, Majernik N, Ash R, Moro A, Agustsson R, Manwani P, Li K, Sakdinawat A, Aquila A, Benediktovitch A, Halavanau A, Rosenzweig J, Bergmann U, Pellegrini C. Development of spinning-disk solid sample delivery system for high-repetition rate x-ray free electron laser experiments. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:103005. [PMID: 37801013 DOI: 10.1063/5.0168125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) deliver intense x-ray pulses that destroy the sample in a single shot by a Coulomb explosion. Experiments using XFEL pulse trains or the new generation of high-repetition rate XFELs require rapid sample replacement beyond those provided by the systems now used at low repletion-rate XFELs. We describe the development and characterization of a system based on a spinning disk to continuously deliver a solid sample into an XFEL interaction point at very high speeds. We tested our system at the Linac Coherent Light Source and European XFEL hard x-ray nano-focus instruments, employing it to deliver a 25 μm copper foil sample, which can be used as a gain medium for stimulated x-ray emission for the proposed x-ray laser oscillator.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Welke
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - N Majernik
- Department of Physics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - R Ash
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - A Moro
- RadiaBeam Technologies, Santa Monica, California 90404, USA
| | - R Agustsson
- RadiaBeam Technologies, Santa Monica, California 90404, USA
| | - P Manwani
- Department of Physics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - K Li
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - A Sakdinawat
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - A Aquila
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - A Benediktovitch
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFEL, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Halavanau
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - J Rosenzweig
- Department of Physics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - U Bergmann
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - C Pellegrini
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
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3
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Besaw JE, Miller RJD. Addressing high excitation conditions in time-resolved X-ray diffraction experiments and issues of biological relevance. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 81:102624. [PMID: 37331203 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102624] [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] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
One of the most important fundamental questions connecting chemistry to biology is how chemistry scales in complexity up to biological systems where there are innumerable possible pathways and competing processes. With the development of ultrabright electron and x-ray sources, it has been possible to literally light up atomic motions to directly observe the reduction in dimensionality in the barrier crossing region to a few key reaction modes. How do these chemical processes further couple to the surrounding protein or macromolecular assembly to drive biological functions? Optical methods to trigger photoactive biological processes are needed to probe this issue on the relevant timescales. However, the excitation conditions have been in the highly nonlinear regime, which questions the biological relevance of the observed structural dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Besaw
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - R J Dwayne Miller
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada.
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4
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Doppler D, Sonker M, Egatz-Gomez A, Grieco A, Zaare S, Jernigan R, Meza-Aguilar JD, Rabbani MT, Manna A, Alvarez RC, Karpos K, Cruz Villarreal J, Nelson G, Yang JH, Carrion J, Morin K, Ketawala GK, Pey AL, Ruiz-Fresneda MA, Pacheco-Garcia JL, Hermoso JA, Nazari R, Sierra R, Hunter MS, Batyuk A, Kupitz CJ, Sublett RE, Lisova S, Mariani V, Boutet S, Fromme R, Grant TD, Botha S, Fromme P, Kirian RA, Martin-Garcia JM, Ros A. Modular droplet injector for sample conservation providing new structural insight for the conformational heterogeneity in the disease-associated NQO1 enzyme. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3016-3033. [PMID: 37294576 PMCID: PMC10503405 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00176h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Droplet injection strategies are a promising tool to reduce the large amount of sample consumed in serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) measurements at X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) with continuous injection approaches. Here, we demonstrate a new modular microfluidic droplet injector (MDI) design that was successfully applied to deliver microcrystals of the human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and phycocyanin. We investigated droplet generation conditions through electrical stimulation for both protein samples and implemented hardware and software components for optimized crystal injection at the Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography (MFX) instrument at the Stanford Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Under optimized droplet injection conditions, we demonstrate that up to 4-fold sample consumption savings can be achieved with the droplet injector. In addition, we collected a full data set with droplet injection for NQO1 protein crystals with a resolution up to 2.7 Å, leading to the first room-temperature structure of NQO1 at an XFEL. NQO1 is a flavoenzyme associated with cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, making it an attractive target for drug discovery. Our results reveal for the first time that residues Tyr128 and Phe232, which play key roles in the function of the protein, show an unexpected conformational heterogeneity at room temperature within the crystals. These results suggest that different substates exist in the conformational ensemble of NQO1 with functional and mechanistic implications for the enzyme's negative cooperativity through a conformational selection mechanism. Our study thus demonstrates that microfluidic droplet injection constitutes a robust sample-conserving injection method for SFX studies on protein crystals that are difficult to obtain in amounts necessary for continuous injection, including the large sample quantities required for time-resolved mix-and-inject studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diandra Doppler
- 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
| | - Mukul Sonker
- 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
| | - Ana Egatz-Gomez
- 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
| | - Alice Grieco
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sahba Zaare
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Rebecca Jernigan
- 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
| | - Jose Domingo Meza-Aguilar
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
| | - Mohammad T Rabbani
- 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
| | - Abhik Manna
- 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
| | - Roberto C Alvarez
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Konstantinos Karpos
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Jorvani Cruz Villarreal
- 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
| | - Garrett Nelson
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Jay-How Yang
- 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
| | - Jackson Carrion
- 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
| | - Katherine Morin
- 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
| | - Gihan K Ketawala
- 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
| | - Angel L Pey
- Departamento de Química Física, Unidad de Excelencia en Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Ruiz-Fresneda
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Luis Pacheco-Garcia
- Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan A Hermoso
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Reza Nazari
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Raymond Sierra
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Mark S Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Alexander Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Christopher J Kupitz
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Robert E Sublett
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Stella Lisova
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Valerio Mariani
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Sébastien Boutet
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, 94025 CA, USA
| | - Raimund 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
| | - Thomas D Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, 955 Main St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Sabine Botha
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, 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
| | - Richard A Kirian
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Jose Manuel Martin-Garcia
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute of Physical Chemistry Blas Cabrera, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 119, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alexandra Ros
- 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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5
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Shoeman RL, Hartmann E, Schlichting I. Growing and making nano- and microcrystals. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:854-882. [PMID: 36451055 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to recent technological advances in X-ray and micro-electron diffraction and solid-state NMR, structural information can be obtained by using much smaller crystals. Thus, microcrystals have become a valuable commodity rather than a mere stepping stone toward obtaining macroscopic crystals. Microcrystals are particularly useful for structure determination using serial data collection approaches at synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. The latter's enormous peak brilliance and short X-ray pulse duration mean that structural information can be obtained before the effects of radiation damage are seen; these properties also facilitate time-resolved crystallography. To establish defined reaction initiation conditions, microcrystals with a desired and narrow size distribution are critical. Here, we describe milling and seeding techniques as well as filtration approaches for the reproducible and size-adjustable preparation of homogeneous nano- and microcrystals. Nanocrystals and crystal seeds can be obtained by milling using zirconium beads and the BeadBug homogenizer; fragmentation of large crystals yields micro- or nanocrystals by flowing crystals through stainless steel filters by using an HPLC pump. The approaches can be scaled to generate micro- to milliliter quantities of microcrystals, starting from macroscopic crystals. The procedure typically takes 3-5 d, including the time required to grow the microcrystals.
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6
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Sonker M, Doppler D, Egatz-Gomez A, Zaare S, Rabbani MT, Manna A, Cruz Villarreal J, Nelson G, Ketawala GK, Karpos K, Alvarez RC, Nazari R, Thifault D, Jernigan R, Oberthür D, Han H, Sierra R, Hunter MS, Batyuk A, Kupitz CJ, Sublett RE, Poitevin F, Lisova S, Mariani V, Tolstikova A, Boutet S, Messerschmidt M, Meza-Aguilar JD, Fromme R, Martin-Garcia JM, Botha S, Fromme P, Grant TD, Kirian RA, Ros A. Electrically stimulated droplet injector for reduced sample consumption in serial crystallography. BIOPHYSICAL REPORTS 2022; 2:100081. [PMID: 36425668 PMCID: PMC9680787 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With advances in X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs), serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) has enabled the static and dynamic structure determination for challenging proteins such as membrane protein complexes. In SFX with XFELs, the crystals are typically destroyed after interacting with a single XFEL pulse. Therefore, thousands of new crystals must be sequentially introduced into the X-ray beam to collect full data sets. Because of the serial nature of any SFX experiment, up to 99% of the sample delivered to the X-ray beam during its "off-time" between X-ray pulses is wasted due to the intrinsic pulsed nature of all current XFELs. To solve this major problem of large and often limiting sample consumption, we report on improvements of a revolutionary sample-saving method that is compatible with all current XFELs. We previously reported 3D-printed injection devices coupled with gas dynamic virtual nozzles (GDVNs) capable of generating samples containing droplets segmented by an immiscible oil phase for jetting crystal-laden droplets into the path of an XFEL. Here, we have further improved the device design by including metal electrodes inducing electrowetting effects for improved control over droplet generation frequency to stimulate the droplet release to matching the XFEL repetition rate by employing an electrical feedback mechanism. We report the improvements in this electrically triggered segmented flow approach for sample conservation in comparison with a continuous GDVN injection using the microcrystals of lysozyme and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase and report the segmented flow approach for sample injection applied at the Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography instrument at the Linear Coherent Light Source for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukul Sonker
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Diandra Doppler
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Ana Egatz-Gomez
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Sahba Zaare
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Mohammad T. Rabbani
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Abhik Manna
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Jorvani Cruz Villarreal
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Garrett Nelson
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Gihan K. Ketawala
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Konstantinos Karpos
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Roberto C. Alvarez
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Reza Nazari
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Darren Thifault
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Rebecca Jernigan
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Raymond Sierra
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Mark S. Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Alexander Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Christopher J. Kupitz
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Robert E. Sublett
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Frederic Poitevin
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Stella Lisova
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Valerio Mariani
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Alexandra Tolstikova
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastien Boutet
- Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - Marc Messerschmidt
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - J. Domingo Meza-Aguilar
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Raimund Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Jose M. Martin-Garcia
- Institute Physical-Chemistry Rocasolano, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabine Botha
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Petra Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Thomas D. Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Richard A. Kirian
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Alexandra Ros
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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7
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Moreno-Chicano T, Carey LM, Axford D, Beale JH, Doak RB, Duyvesteyn HME, Ebrahim A, Henning RW, Monteiro DCF, Myles DA, Owada S, Sherrell DA, Straw ML, Šrajer V, Sugimoto H, Tono K, Tosha T, Tews I, Trebbin M, Strange RW, Weiss KL, Worrall JAR, Meilleur F, Owen RL, Ghiladi RA, Hough MA. Complementarity of neutron, XFEL and synchrotron crystallography for defining the structures of metalloenzymes at room temperature. IUCRJ 2022; 9:610-624. [PMID: 36071813 PMCID: PMC9438502 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252522006418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Room-temperature macromolecular crystallography allows protein structures to be determined under close-to-physiological conditions, permits dynamic freedom in protein motions and enables time-resolved studies. In the case of metalloenzymes that are highly sensitive to radiation damage, such room-temperature experiments can present challenges, including increased rates of X-ray reduction of metal centres and site-specific radiation-damage artefacts, as well as in devising appropriate sample-delivery and data-collection methods. It can also be problematic to compare structures measured using different crystal sizes and light sources. In this study, structures of a multifunctional globin, dehaloperoxidase B (DHP-B), obtained using several methods of room-temperature crystallographic structure determination are described and compared. Here, data were measured from large single crystals and multiple microcrystals using neutrons, X-ray free-electron laser pulses, monochromatic synchrotron radiation and polychromatic (Laue) radiation light sources. These approaches span a range of 18 orders of magnitude in measurement time per diffraction pattern and four orders of magnitude in crystal volume. The first room-temperature neutron structures of DHP-B are also presented, allowing the explicit identification of the hydrogen positions. The neutron data proved to be complementary to the serial femtosecond crystallography data, with both methods providing structures free of the effects of X-ray radiation damage when compared with standard cryo-crystallography. Comparison of these room-temperature methods demonstrated the large differences in sample requirements, data-collection time and the potential for radiation damage between them. With regard to the structure and function of DHP-B, despite the results being partly limited by differences in the underlying structures, new information was gained on the protonation states of active-site residues which may guide future studies of DHP-B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeo Moreno-Chicano
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Leiah M. Carey
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204, USA
| | - Danny Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - John H. Beale
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - R. Bruce Doak
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Helen M. E. Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology (STRUBI), University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Henning
- BioCARS, University of Chicago, Building 434B, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | - Diana C. F. Monteiro
- Hauptman–Woodward Medical Research Institute, 700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1102, USA
| | - Dean A. Myles
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Shigeki Owada
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Darren A. Sherrell
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Megan L. Straw
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Vukica Šrajer
- BioCARS, University of Chicago, Building 434B, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
| | | | - Kensuke Tono
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Takehiko Tosha
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Ivo Tews
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Trebbin
- Hauptman–Woodward Medical Research Institute, 700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1102, USA
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Richard W. Strange
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin L. Weiss
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jonathan A. R. Worrall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Flora Meilleur
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204, USA
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Reza A. Ghiladi
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204, USA
| | - Michael A. Hough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
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8
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Barends TR, Stauch B, Cherezov V, Schlichting I. Serial femtosecond crystallography. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:59. [PMID: 36643971 PMCID: PMC9833121 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs), new, high-throughput serial crystallography techniques for macromolecular structure determination have emerged. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) and related methods provide possibilities beyond canonical, single-crystal rotation crystallography by mitigating radiation damage and allowing time-resolved studies with unprecedented temporal resolution. This primer aims to assist structural biology groups with little or no experience in serial crystallography planning and carrying out a successful SFX experiment. It discusses the background of serial crystallography and its possibilities. Microcrystal growth and characterization methods are discussed, alongside techniques for sample delivery and data processing. Moreover, it gives practical tips for preparing an experiment, what to consider and do during a beamtime and how to conduct the final data analysis. Finally, the Primer looks at various applications of SFX, including structure determination of membrane proteins, investigation of radiation damage-prone systems and time-resolved studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R.M. Barends
- Department for Biological Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stauch
- Department of Chemistry, The Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Department of Chemistry, The Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ilme Schlichting
- Department for Biological Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany,
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9
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Schulz EC, Yorke BA, Pearson AR, Mehrabi P. Best practices for time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2022; 78:14-29. [PMID: 34981758 PMCID: PMC8725164 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321011621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
With recent developments in X-ray sources, instrumentation and data-analysis tools, time-resolved crystallographic experiments, which were originally the preserve of a few expert groups, are becoming simpler and can be carried out at more radiation sources, and are thus increasingly accessible to a growing user base. However, these experiments are just that: discrete experiments, not just `data collections'. As such, careful planning and consideration of potential pitfalls is required to enable a successful experiment. Here, some of the key factors that should be considered during the planning and execution of a time-resolved structural study are outlined, with a particular focus on synchrotron-based experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike C. Schulz
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Briony A. Yorke
- School of Chemistry and Bioscience, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Arwen R. Pearson
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pedram Mehrabi
- Institute for Nanostructure and Solid State Physics, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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10
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Gilbile D, Shelby ML, Lyubimov AY, Wierman JL, Monteiro DCF, Cohen AE, Russi S, Coleman MA, Frank M, Kuhl TL. Plug-and-play polymer microfluidic chips for hydrated, room temperature, fixed-target serial crystallography. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4831-4845. [PMID: 34821226 PMCID: PMC8915944 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00810b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The practice of serial X-ray crystallography (SX) depends on efficient, continuous delivery of hydrated protein crystals while minimizing background scattering. Of the two major types of sample delivery devices, fixed-target devices offer several advantages over widely adopted jet injectors, including: lower sample consumption, clog-free delivery, and the ability to control on-chip crystal density to improve hit rates. Here we present our development of versatile, inexpensive, and robust polymer microfluidic chips for routine and reliable room temperature serial measurements at both synchrotrons and X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). Our design includes highly X-ray-transparent enclosing thin film layers tuned to minimize scatter background, adaptable sample flow layers tuned to match crystal size, and a large sample area compatible with both raster scanning and rotation based serial data collection. The optically transparent chips can be used both for in situ protein crystallization (to eliminate crystal handling) or crystal slurry loading, with prepared samples stable for weeks in a humidified environment and for several hours in ambient conditions. Serial oscillation crystallography, using a multi-crystal rotational data collection approach, at a microfocus synchrotron beamline (SSRL, beamline 12-1) was used to benchmark the performance of the chips. High-resolution structures (1.3-2.7 Å) were collected from five different proteins - hen egg white lysozyme, thaumatin, bovine liver catalase, concanavalin-A (type VI), and SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein NSP5. Overall, our modular fabrication approach enables precise control over the cross-section of materials in the X-ray beam path and facilitates chip adaption to different sample and beamline requirements for user-friendly, straightforward diffraction measurements at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepshika Gilbile
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Megan L Shelby
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Artem Y Lyubimov
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | | | - Diana C F Monteiro
- Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, 700 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Aina E Cohen
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Silvia Russi
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Matthew A Coleman
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Matthias Frank
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Tonya L Kuhl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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11
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Martiel I, Beale JH, Karpik A, Huang CY, Vera L, Olieric N, Wranik M, Tsai CJ, Mühle J, Aurelius O, John J, Högbom M, Wang M, Marsh M, Padeste C. Versatile microporous polymer-based supports for serial macromolecular crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1153-1167. [PMID: 34473086 PMCID: PMC8411977 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321007324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Serial data collection has emerged as a major tool for data collection at state-of-the-art light sources, such as microfocus beamlines at synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. Challenging targets, characterized by small crystal sizes, weak diffraction and stringent dose limits, benefit most from these methods. Here, the use of a thin support made of a polymer-based membrane for performing serial data collection or screening experiments is demonstrated. It is shown that these supports are suitable for a wide range of protein crystals suspended in liquids. The supports have also proved to be applicable to challenging cases such as membrane proteins growing in the sponge phase. The sample-deposition method is simple and robust, as well as flexible and adaptable to a variety of cases. It results in an optimally thin specimen providing low background while maintaining minute amounts of mother liquor around the crystals. The 2 × 2 mm area enables the deposition of up to several microlitres of liquid. Imaging and visualization of the crystals are straightforward on the highly transparent membrane. Thanks to their affordable fabrication, these supports have the potential to become an attractive option for serial experiments at synchrotrons and free-electron lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Martiel
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - John H. Beale
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Agnieszka Karpik
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
- Institute of Polymer Nanotechnology (INKA), FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Chia-Ying Huang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Laura Vera
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Olieric
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Maximilian Wranik
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Ching-Ju Tsai
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Mühle
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Oskar Aurelius
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, 224 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Juliane John
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Högbom
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meitian Wang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - May Marsh
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Celestino Padeste
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
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12
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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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13
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Norton-Baker B, Mehrabi P, Boger J, Schönherr R, von Stetten D, Schikora H, Kwok AO, Martin RW, Miller RJD, Redecke L, Schulz EC. A simple vapor-diffusion method enables protein crystallization inside the HARE serial crystallography chip. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:820-834. [PMID: 34076595 PMCID: PMC8171066 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321003855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fixed-target serial crystallography has become an important method for the study of protein structure and dynamics at synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers. However, sample homogeneity, consumption and the physical stress on samples remain major challenges for these high-throughput experiments, which depend on high-quality protein microcrystals. The batch crystallization procedures that are typically applied require time- and sample-intensive screening and optimization. Here, a simple protein crystallization method inside the features of the HARE serial crystallography chips is reported that circumvents batch crystallization and allows the direct transfer of canonical vapor-diffusion conditions to in-chip crystallization. Based on conventional hanging-drop vapor-diffusion experiments, the crystallization solution is distributed into the wells of the HARE chip and equilibrated against a reservoir with mother liquor. Using this simple method, high-quality microcrystals were generated with sufficient density for the structure determination of four different proteins. A new protein variant was crystallized using the protein concentrations encountered during canonical crystallization experiments, enabling structure determination from ∼55 µg of protein. Additionally, structure determination from intracellular crystals grown in insect cells cultured directly in the features of the HARE chips is demonstrated. In cellulo crystallization represents a comparatively unexplored space in crystallization, especially for proteins that are resistant to crystallization using conventional techniques, and eliminates any need for laborious protein purification. This in-chip technique avoids harvesting the sensitive crystals or any further physical handling of the crystal-containing cells. These proof-of-principle experiments indicate the potential of this method to become a simple alternative to batch crystallization approaches and also as a convenient extension to canonical crystallization screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna Norton-Baker
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
| | - Pedram Mehrabi
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Juliane Boger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Robert Schönherr
- Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - David von Stetten
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Schikora
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ashley O. Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
| | - R. J. Dwayne Miller
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 9, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Lars Redecke
- Institute of Biochemistry, Center for Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- Photon Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike C. Schulz
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, HARBOR, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Illava G, Jayne R, Finke AD, Closs D, Zeng W, Milano SK, Huang Q, Kriksunov I, Sidorenko P, Wise FW, Zipfel WR, Apker BA, Thorne RE. Integrated sample-handling and mounting system for fixed-target serial synchrotron crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:628-644. [PMID: 33950019 PMCID: PMC8098472 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321001868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) is enabling the efficient use of small crystals for structure-function studies of biomolecules and for drug discovery. An integrated SSX system has been developed comprising ultralow background-scatter sample holders suitable for room and cryogenic temperature crystallographic data collection, a sample-loading station and a humid `gloveless' glovebox. The sample holders incorporate thin-film supports with a variety of designs optimized for different crystal-loading challenges. These holders facilitate the dispersion of crystals and the removal of excess liquid, can be cooled at extremely high rates, generate little background scatter, allow data collection over >90° of oscillation without obstruction or the risk of generating saturating Bragg peaks, are compatible with existing infrastructure for high-throughput cryocrystallography and are reusable. The sample-loading station allows sample preparation and loading onto the support film, the application of time-varying suction for optimal removal of excess liquid, crystal repositioning and cryoprotection, and the application of sealing films for room-temperature data collection, all in a controlled-humidity environment. The humid glovebox allows microscope observation of the sample-loading station and crystallization trays while maintaining near-saturating humidities that further minimize the risks of sample dehydration and damage, and maximize working times. This integrated system addresses common problems in obtaining properly dispersed, properly hydrated and isomorphous microcrystals for fixed-orientation and oscillation data collection. Its ease of use, flexibility and optimized performance make it attractive not just for SSX but also for single-crystal and few-crystal data collection. Fundamental concepts that are important in achieving desired crystal distributions on a sample holder via time-varying suction-induced liquid flows are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Illava
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | | | - David Closs
- MiTeGen LLC, PO Box 3867, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Wenjie Zeng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Shawn K. Milano
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | | | - Pavel Sidorenko
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Frank W. Wise
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Warren R. Zipfel
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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15
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Mehrabi P, Bücker R, Bourenkov G, Ginn HM, von Stetten D, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Kuo A, Morizumi T, Eger BT, Ou WL, Oghbaey S, Sarracini A, Besaw JE, Pare-Labrosse O, Meier S, Schikora H, Tellkamp F, Marx A, Sherrell DA, Axford D, Owen RL, Ernst OP, Pai EF, Schulz EC, Miller RJD. Serial femtosecond and serial synchrotron crystallography can yield data of equivalent quality: A systematic comparison. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/12/eabf1380. [PMID: 33731353 PMCID: PMC7968842 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf1380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
For the two proteins myoglobin and fluoroacetate dehalogenase, we present a systematic comparison of crystallographic diffraction data collected by serial femtosecond (SFX) and serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX). To maximize comparability, we used the same batch of micron-sized crystals, the same sample delivery device, and the same data analysis software. Overall figures of merit indicate that the data of both radiation sources are of equivalent quality. For both proteins, reasonable data statistics can be obtained with approximately 5000 room-temperature diffraction images irrespective of the radiation source. The direct comparability of SSX and SFX data indicates that the quality of diffraction data obtained from these samples is linked to the properties of the crystals rather than to the radiation source. Therefore, for other systems with similar properties, time-resolved experiments can be conducted at the radiation source that best matches the desired time resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Mehrabi
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - R Bücker
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - G Bourenkov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestraße 85, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany
| | - H M Ginn
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - D von Stetten
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg Outstation c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestraße 85, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany
| | - H M Müller-Werkmeister
- Institute of Chemistry-Physical Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - A Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - T Morizumi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - B T Eger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - W-L Ou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - S Oghbaey
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - A Sarracini
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - J E Besaw
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - O Pare-Labrosse
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - S Meier
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 9, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Schikora
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Tellkamp
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Marx
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - D A Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
- Structural Biology Center, X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - D Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - R L Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - O P Ernst
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - E F Pai
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Campbell Family Cancer Research Institute, Ontario Cancer Institute, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - E C Schulz
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - R J D Miller
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 9, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
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16
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Abstract
X-ray crystallography enables detailed structural studies of proteins to understand and modulate their function. Conducting crystallographic experiments at cryogenic temperatures has practical benefits but potentially limits the identification of functionally important alternative protein conformations that can be revealed only at room temperature (RT). This review discusses practical aspects of preparing, acquiring, and analyzing X-ray crystallography data at RT to demystify preconceived impracticalities that freeze progress of routine RT data collection at synchrotron sources. Examples are presented as conceptual and experimental templates to enable the design of RT-inspired studies; they illustrate the diversity and utility of gaining novel insights into protein conformational landscapes. An integrative view of protein conformational dynamics enables opportunities to advance basic and biomedical research.
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17
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Dynamic Structural Biology Experiments at XFEL or Synchrotron Sources. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2305:203-228. [PMID: 33950392 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1406-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography (MX) leverages the methods of physics and the language of chemistry to reveal fundamental insights into biology. Often beautifully artistic images present MX results to support profound functional hypotheses that are vital to entire life science research community. Over the past several decades, synchrotrons around the world have been the workhorses for X-ray diffraction data collection at many highly automated beamlines. The newest tools include X-ray-free electron lasers (XFELs) located at facilities in the USA, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and Germany that deliver about nine orders of magnitude higher brightness in discrete femtosecond long pulses. At each of these facilities, new serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) strategies exploit slurries of micron-size crystals by rapidly delivering individual crystals into the XFEL X-ray interaction region, from which one diffraction pattern is collected per crystal before it is destroyed by the intense X-ray pulse. Relatively simple adaptions to SFX methods produce time-resolved data collection strategies wherein reactions are triggered by visible light illumination or by chemical diffusion/mixing. Thus, XFELs provide new opportunities for high temporal and spatial resolution studies of systems engaged in function at physiological temperature. In this chapter, we summarize various issues related to microcrystal slurry preparation, sample delivery into the X-ray interaction region, and some emerging strategies for time-resolved SFX data collection.
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18
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Martiel I, Huang CY, Villanueva-Perez P, Panepucci E, Basu S, Caffrey M, Pedrini B, Bunk O, Stampanoni M, Wang M. Low-dose in situ prelocation of protein microcrystals by 2D X-ray phase-contrast imaging for serial crystallography. IUCRJ 2020; 7:1131-1141. [PMID: 33209324 PMCID: PMC7642777 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520013238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Serial protein crystallography has emerged as a powerful method of data collection on small crystals from challenging targets, such as membrane proteins. Multiple microcrystals need to be located on large and often flat mounts while exposing them to an X-ray dose that is as low as possible. A crystal-prelocation method is demonstrated here using low-dose 2D full-field propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging at the X-ray imaging beamline TOMCAT at the Swiss Light Source (SLS). This imaging step provides microcrystal coordinates for automated serial data collection at a microfocus macromolecular crystallography beamline on samples with an essentially flat geometry. This prelocation method was applied to microcrystals of a soluble protein and a membrane protein, grown in a commonly used double-sandwich in situ crystallization plate. The inner sandwiches of thin plastic film enclosing the microcrystals in lipid cubic phase were flash cooled and imaged at TOMCAT. Based on the obtained crystal coordinates, both still and rotation wedge serial data were collected automatically at the SLS PXI beamline, yielding in both cases a high indexing rate. This workflow can be easily implemented at many synchrotron facilities using existing equipment, or potentially integrated as an online technique in the next-generation macromolecular crystallography beamline, and thus benefit a number of dose-sensitive challenging protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Martiel
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Chia-Ying Huang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Villanueva-Perez
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
- Synchrotron Radiation Research and NanoLund, Lund University, Box 118, Lund, 221 00, Sweden
| | - Ezequiel Panepucci
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Shibom Basu
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
- EMBL Grenoble, 71 avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, 38042, France
| | - Martin Caffrey
- School of Medicine and School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, D02 R590, Ireland
| | - Bill Pedrini
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Bunk
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Marco Stampanoni
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Meitian Wang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen, 5232, Switzerland
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19
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Echelmeier A, Cruz Villarreal J, Messerschmidt M, Kim D, Coe JD, Thifault D, Botha S, Egatz-Gomez A, Gandhi S, Brehm G, Conrad CE, Hansen DT, Madsen C, Bajt S, Meza-Aguilar JD, Oberthür D, Wiedorn MO, Fleckenstein H, Mendez D, Knoška J, Martin-Garcia JM, Hu H, Lisova S, Allahgholi A, Gevorkov Y, Ayyer K, Aplin S, Ginn HM, Graafsma H, Morgan AJ, Greiffenberg D, Klujev A, Laurus T, Poehlsen J, Trunk U, Mezza D, Schmidt B, Kuhn M, Fromme R, Sztuk-Dambietz J, Raab N, Hauf S, Silenzi A, Michelat T, Xu C, Danilevski C, Parenti A, Mekinda L, Weinhausen B, Mills G, Vagovic P, Kim Y, Kirkwood H, Bean R, Bielecki J, Stern S, Giewekemeyer K, Round AR, Schulz J, Dörner K, Grant TD, Mariani V, Barty A, Mancuso AP, Weierstall U, Spence JCH, Chapman HN, Zatsepin N, Fromme P, Kirian RA, Ros A. Segmented flow generator for serial crystallography at the European X-ray free electron laser. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4511. [PMID: 32908128 PMCID: PMC7481229 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18156-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) with X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) allows structure determination of membrane proteins and time-resolved crystallography. Common liquid sample delivery continuously jets the protein crystal suspension into the path of the XFEL, wasting a vast amount of sample due to the pulsed nature of all current XFEL sources. The European XFEL (EuXFEL) delivers femtosecond (fs) X-ray pulses in trains spaced 100 ms apart whereas pulses within trains are currently separated by 889 ns. Therefore, continuous sample delivery via fast jets wastes >99% of sample. Here, we introduce a microfluidic device delivering crystal laden droplets segmented with an immiscible oil reducing sample waste and demonstrate droplet injection at the EuXFEL compatible with high pressure liquid delivery of an SFX experiment. While achieving ~60% reduction in sample waste, we determine the structure of the enzyme 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate-8-phosphate synthase from microcrystals delivered in droplets revealing distinct structural features not previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Echelmeier
- 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
| | - Jorvani Cruz Villarreal
- 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
| | - Marc Messerschmidt
- 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.,European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Daihyun Kim
- 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 D 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
| | - Darren Thifault
- 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
| | - Sabine Botha
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Ana Egatz-Gomez
- 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
| | - Sahir Gandhi
- 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
| | - Gerrit Brehm
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - 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
| | - Debra T Hansen
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
| | - Caleb Madsen
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Saša Bajt
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Max O Wiedorn
- Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.,Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Holger Fleckenstein
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Derek Mendez
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Juraj Knoška
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - 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
| | - Hao Hu
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Stella Lisova
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Aschkan Allahgholi
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yaroslav Gevorkov
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg University of Technology, Vision Systems E-2, Harburger Schloßstraße 20, 21079, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kartik Ayyer
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steve Aplin
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Helen Mary Ginn
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 2JD, United Kingdom.,Diamond Light Source Ltd, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Heinz Graafsma
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrew J Morgan
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Klujev
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Laurus
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Poehlsen
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Trunk
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Davide Mezza
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Schmidt
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Kuhn
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raimund 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
| | | | - Natascha Raab
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Steffen Hauf
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | | | - Chen Xu
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Grant Mills
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Yoonhee Kim
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Richard Bean
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Stern
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.,Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Adam R Round
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.,School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Thomas D Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, 955 Main St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Valerio Mariani
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anton Barty
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adrian P Mancuso
- European XFEL, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Uwe Weierstall
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - John C H Spence
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Henry N Chapman
- Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.,Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadia Zatsepin
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - 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
| | - Richard A Kirian
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.,Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1504, USA
| | - Alexandra Ros
- 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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20
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Rabe P, Beale JH, Butryn A, Aller P, Dirr A, Lang PA, Axford DN, Carr SB, Leissing TM, McDonough MA, Davy B, Ebrahim A, Orlans J, Storm SLS, Orville AM, Schofield CJ, Owen RL. Anaerobic fixed-target serial crystallography. IUCRJ 2020; 7:901-912. [PMID: 32939282 PMCID: PMC7467159 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252520010374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Cryogenic X-ray diffraction is a powerful tool for crystallographic studies on enzymes including oxygenases and oxidases. Amongst the benefits that cryo-conditions (usually employing a nitro-gen cryo-stream at 100 K) enable, is data collection of di-oxy-gen-sensitive samples. Although not strictly anaerobic, at low temperatures the vitreous ice conditions severely restrict O2 diffusion into and/or through the protein crystal. Cryo-conditions limit chemical reactivity, including reactions that require significant conformational changes. By contrast, data collection at room temperature imposes fewer restrictions on diffusion and reactivity; room-temperature serial methods are thus becoming common at synchrotrons and XFELs. However, maintaining an anaerobic environment for di-oxy-gen-dependent enzymes has not been explored for serial room-temperature data collection at synchrotron light sources. This work describes a methodology that employs an adaptation of the 'sheet-on-sheet' sample mount, which is suitable for the low-dose room-temperature data collection of anaerobic samples at synchrotron light sources. The method is characterized by easy sample preparation in an anaerobic glovebox, gentle handling of crystals, low sample consumption and preservation of a localized anaerobic environment over the timescale of the experiment (<5 min). The utility of the method is highlighted by studies with three X-ray-radiation-sensitive Fe(II)-containing model enzymes: the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent l-arginine hy-droxy-lase VioC and the DNA repair enzyme AlkB, as well as the oxidase isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS), which is involved in the biosynthesis of all penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Rabe
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - John H. Beale
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Agata Butryn
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Aller
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Dirr
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Pauline A. Lang
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Danny N. Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen B. Carr
- Research Complex at Harwell, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas M. Leissing
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A. McDonough
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Bradley Davy
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Julien Orlans
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
- UMR0203, Biologie Fonctionnelle, Insectes et Interactions, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne F-69621, France
| | - Selina L. S. Storm
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Allen M. Orville
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
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21
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Shilova A, Lebrette H, Aurelius O, Nan J, Welin M, Kovacic R, Ghosh S, Safari C, Friel RJ, Milas M, Matej Z, Högbom M, Brändén G, Kloos M, Shoeman RL, Doak B, Ursby T, Håkansson M, Logan DT, Mueller U. Current status and future opportunities for serial crystallography at MAX IV Laboratory. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:1095-1102. [PMID: 32876583 PMCID: PMC7467353 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520008735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, serial crystallography, a method to collect complete diffraction datasets from a large number of microcrystals delivered and exposed to an X-ray beam in random orientations at room temperature, has been successfully implemented at X-ray free-electron lasers and synchrotron radiation facility beamlines. This development relies on a growing variety of sample presentation methods, including different fixed target supports, injection methods using gas-dynamic virtual-nozzle injectors and high-viscosity extrusion injectors, and acoustic levitation of droplets, each with unique requirements. In comparison with X-ray free-electron lasers, increased beam time availability makes synchrotron facilities very attractive to perform serial synchrotron X-ray crystallography (SSX) experiments. Within this work, the possibilities to perform SSX at BioMAX, the first macromolecular crystallography beamline at MAX IV Laboratory in Lund, Sweden, are described, together with case studies from the SSX user program: an implementation of a high-viscosity extrusion injector to perform room temperature serial crystallography at BioMAX using two solid supports - silicon nitride membranes (Silson, UK) and XtalTool (Jena Bioscience, Germany). Future perspectives for the dedicated serial crystallography beamline MicroMAX at MAX IV Laboratory, which will provide parallel and intense micrometre-sized X-ray beams, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasya Shilova
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Hugo Lebrette
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16 C, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Oskar Aurelius
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Jie Nan
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Martin Welin
- SARomics Biostructures, Medicon Village, Scheeletorget 1, Lund 22363, Sweden
| | - Rebeka Kovacic
- SARomics Biostructures, Medicon Village, Scheeletorget 1, Lund 22363, Sweden
| | - Swagatha Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Safari
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
| | - Ross J. Friel
- School of Information Technology, Halmstad University, Halmstad 30118, Sweden
| | - Mirko Milas
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Zdenek Matej
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Martin Högbom
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16 C, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Gisela Brändén
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
| | - Marco Kloos
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Robert L. Shoeman
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bruce Doak
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Ursby
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
| | - Maria Håkansson
- SARomics Biostructures, Medicon Village, Scheeletorget 1, Lund 22363, Sweden
| | - Derek T. Logan
- SARomics Biostructures, Medicon Village, Scheeletorget 1, Lund 22363, Sweden
| | - Uwe Mueller
- MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Fotongatan 2, Lund 22484, Sweden
- Macromolecular Crystallography Group, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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22
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Lee K, Lee D, Baek S, Park J, Lee SJ, Park S, Chung WK, Lee JL, Cho HS, Cho Y, Nam KH. Viscous-medium-based crystal support in a sample holder for fixed-target serial femtosecond crystallography. J Appl Crystallogr 2020. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720008663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) enables the determination of the room-temperature crystal structure of macromolecules, as well as providing time-resolved molecular dynamics data in pump–probe experiments. Fixed-target SFX (FT-SFX) can minimize sample consumption and physical effects on crystals during sample delivery. In FT-SFX studies, having a sample holder that can stably fix crystal samples is one of the key elements required for efficient data collection. Hence, development of sample holders from new materials capable of supporting various crystal sizes and shapes may expand the applications of FT-SFX. Here, a viscous-media-based crystal support in a sample holder for FT-SFX is introduced. Crystal samples were embedded in viscous media, namely gelatin and agarose, which were enclosed in a polyimide film. In the vertically placed sample holder, 10–15%(w/v) viscous gelatin and 1–4%(w/v) agarose gel stably supported crystals between two polyimide films, thereby preventing the crystals from descending owing to gravity. Using this method, FT-SFX experiments were performed with glucose isomerase and lysozyme embedded in gelatin and agarose, respectively. The room-temperature crystal structures of glucose isomerase and lysozyme were successfully determined at 1.75 and 1.80 Å resolutions, respectively. The glucose isomerase and lysozyme diffraction analyses were not impeded by excessive background scattering from the viscous media. This method is useful for delivering crystal samples of various sizes and shapes in FT-SFX experiments.
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23
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Lee D, Park S, Lee K, Kim J, Park G, Nam KH, Baek S, Chung WK, Lee JL, Cho Y, Park J. Application of a high-throughput microcrystal delivery system to serial femtosecond crystallography. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:477-485. [PMID: 32280322 PMCID: PMC7133064 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720002423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microcrystal delivery methods are pivotal in the use of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) to resolve the macromolecular structures of proteins. Here, the development of a novel technique and instruments for efficiently delivering microcrystals for SFX are presented. The new method, which relies on a one-dimensional fixed-target system that includes a microcrystal container, consumes an extremely low amount of sample compared with conventional two-dimensional fixed-target techniques at ambient temperature. This novel system can deliver soluble microcrystals without highly viscous carrier media and, moreover, can be used as a microcrystal growth device for SFX. Diffraction data collection utilizing this advanced technique along with a real-time visual servo scan system has been successfully demonstrated for the structure determination of proteinase K microcrystals at 1.85 Å resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghyeon Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehan Park
- PAL-XFEL, Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, 80 Jigok-ro 127 beongil, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Keondo Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jangwoo Kim
- PAL-XFEL, Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, 80 Jigok-ro 127 beongil, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Gisu Park
- PAL-XFEL, Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, 80 Jigok-ro 127 beongil, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hyun Nam
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Life Science and Natural Resources, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangwon Baek
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan Kyun Chung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Lam Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunje Cho
- Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyun Park
- PAL-XFEL, Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, 80 Jigok-ro 127 beongil, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
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24
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Abstract
The advent of the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) in the last decade created the discipline of serial crystallography but also the challenge of how crystal samples are delivered to X-ray. Early sample delivery methods demonstrated the proof-of-concept for serial crystallography and XFEL but were beset with challenges of high sample consumption, jet clogging and low data collection efficiency. The potential of XFEL and serial crystallography as the next frontier of structural solution by X-ray for small and weakly diffracting crystals and provision of ultra-fast time-resolved structural data spawned a huge amount of scientific interest and innovation. To utilize the full potential of XFEL and broaden its applicability to a larger variety of biological samples, researchers are challenged to develop better sample delivery methods. Thus, sample delivery is one of the key areas of research and development in the serial crystallography scientific community. Sample delivery currently falls into three main systems: jet-based methods, fixed-target chips, and drop-on-demand. Huge strides have since been made in reducing sample consumption and improving data collection efficiency, thus enabling the use of XFEL for many biological systems to provide high-resolution, radiation damage-free structural data as well as time-resolved dynamics studies. This review summarizes the current main strategies in sample delivery and their respective pros and cons, as well as some future direction.
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25
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Mehrabi P, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Leimkohl JP, Schikora H, Ninkovic J, Krivokuca S, Andriček L, Epp SW, Sherrell D, Owen RL, Pearson AR, Tellkamp F, Schulz EC, Miller RJD. The HARE chip for efficient time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:360-370. [PMID: 32153274 PMCID: PMC7064102 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520000685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) is an emerging technique for static and time-resolved protein structure determination. Using specifically patterned silicon chips for sample delivery, the `hit-and-return' (HARE) protocol allows for efficient time-resolved data collection. The specific pattern of the crystal wells in the HARE chip provides direct access to many discrete time points. HARE chips allow for optical excitation as well as on-chip mixing for reaction initiation, making a large number of protein systems amenable to time-resolved studies. Loading of protein microcrystals onto the HARE chip is streamlined by a novel vacuum loading platform that allows fine-tuning of suction strength while maintaining a humid environment to prevent crystal dehydration. To enable the widespread use of time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography (TR-SSX), detailed technical descriptions of a set of accessories that facilitate TR-SSX workflows are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Mehrabi
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Henrike M. Müller-Werkmeister
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry – Physical Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Leimkohl
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Schikora
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jelena Ninkovic
- Halbleiterlabor der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, D-81739 Munich, Germany
| | - Silvia Krivokuca
- Halbleiterlabor der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, D-81739 Munich, Germany
| | - Ladislav Andriček
- Halbleiterlabor der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Otto-Hahn-Ring 6, D-81739 Munich, Germany
| | - Sascha W. Epp
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Darren Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Arwen R. Pearson
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 9, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedjof Tellkamp
- Scientific Support Unit Machine Physics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike C. Schulz
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - R. J. Dwayne Miller
- Department for Atomically Resolved Dynamics, Max-Planck-Institute for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 9, 20355 Hamburg, Germany
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
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26
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Martiel I, Mozzanica A, Opara NL, Panepucci E, Leonarski F, Redford S, Mohacsi I, Guzenko V, Ozerov D, Padeste C, Schmitt B, Pedrini B, Wang M. X-ray fluorescence detection for serial macromolecular crystallography using a JUNGFRAU pixel detector. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:329-339. [PMID: 32153271 PMCID: PMC7064105 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577519016758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Detection of heavy elements, such as metals, in macromolecular crystallography (MX) samples by X-ray fluorescence is a function traditionally covered at synchrotron MX beamlines by silicon drift detectors, which cannot be used at X-ray free-electron lasers because of the very short duration of the X-ray pulses. Here it is shown that the hybrid pixel charge-integrating detector JUNGFRAU can fulfill this function when operating in a low-flux regime. The feasibility of precise position determination of micrometre-sized metal marks is also demonstrated, to be used as fiducials for offline prelocation in serial crystallography experiments, based on the specific fluorescence signal measured with JUNGFRAU, both at the synchrotron and at SwissFEL. Finally, the measurement of elemental absorption edges at a synchrotron beamline using JUNGFRAU is also demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Martiel
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Aldo Mozzanica
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Nadia L. Opara
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
- Center for Cellular Imaging and NanoAnalytics (C-CINA), Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel 4058, Switzerland
- SwissNanoscience Institute, University of Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Ezequiel Panepucci
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Filip Leonarski
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Redford
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Istvan Mohacsi
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Vitaliy Guzenko
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Dmitry Ozerov
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Celestino Padeste
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Schmitt
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Bill Pedrini
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Meitian Wang
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
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27
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Shelby ML, Gilbile D, Grant TD, Seuring C, Segelke BW, He W, Evans AC, Pakendorf T, Fischer P, Hunter MS, Batyuk A, Barthelmess M, Meents A, Coleman MA, Kuhl TL, Frank M. A fixed-target platform for serial femtosecond crystallography in a hydrated environment. IUCRJ 2020; 7:30-41. [PMID: 31949902 PMCID: PMC6949605 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252519014003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
For serial femtosecond crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers, which entails collection of single-pulse diffraction patterns from a constantly refreshed supply of microcrystalline sample, delivery of the sample into the X-ray beam path while maintaining low background remains a technical challenge for some experiments, especially where this methodology is applied to relatively low-ordered samples or those difficult to purify and crystallize in large quantities. This work demonstrates a scheme to encapsulate biological samples using polymer thin films and graphene to maintain sample hydration in vacuum conditions. The encapsulated sample is delivered into the X-ray beam on fixed targets for rapid scanning using the Roadrunner fixed-target system towards a long-term goal of low-background measurements on weakly diffracting samples. As a proof of principle, we used microcrystals of the 24 kDa rapid encystment protein (REP24) to provide a benchmark for polymer/graphene sandwich performance. The REP24 microcrystal unit cell obtained from our sandwiched in-vacuum sample was consistent with previously established unit-cell parameters and with those measured by us without encapsulation in humidified helium, indicating that the platform is robust against evaporative losses. While significant scattering from water was observed because of the sample-deposition method, the polymer/graphene sandwich itself was shown to contribute minimally to background scattering.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. L. Shelby
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - D. Gilbile
- University of California at Davis, California, USA
| | - T. D. Grant
- Department of Structural Biology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Hauptman-Woodward Institute, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - C. Seuring
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - B. W. Segelke
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - W. He
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - A. C. Evans
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
- University of California at Davis, California, USA
| | - T. Pakendorf
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - P. Fischer
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M. S. Hunter
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - A. Batyuk
- Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | - M. Barthelmess
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A. Meents
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M. A. Coleman
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
- University of California at Davis, California, USA
| | - T. L. Kuhl
- University of California at Davis, California, USA
| | - M. Frank
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
- University of California at Davis, California, USA
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28
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Zhao F, Zhang B, Yan E, Sun B, Wang Z, He J, Yin D. A guide to sample delivery systems for serial crystallography. FEBS J 2019; 286:4402-4417. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.15099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Feng‐Zhu Zhao
- School of Life Sciences Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an China
| | - Bin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an China
| | - Er‐Kai Yan
- School of Life Sciences Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an China
| | - Bo Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China
| | - Zhi‐Jun Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China
| | - Jian‐Hua He
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China
| | - Da‐Chuan Yin
- School of Life Sciences Northwestern Polytechnical University Xi'an China
- Shenzhen Research Institute Northwestern Polytechnical University Shenzhen China
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29
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Moreno-Chicano T, Ebrahim A, Axford D, Appleby MV, Beale JH, Chaplin AK, Duyvesteyn HME, Ghiladi RA, Owada S, Sherrell DA, Strange RW, Sugimoto H, Tono K, Worrall JAR, Owen RL, Hough MA. High-throughput structures of protein-ligand complexes at room temperature using serial femtosecond crystallography. IUCRJ 2019; 6:1074-1085. [PMID: 31709063 PMCID: PMC6830213 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252519011655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput X-ray crystal structures of protein-ligand complexes are critical to pharmaceutical drug development. However, cryocooling of crystals and X-ray radiation damage may distort the observed ligand binding. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) using X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) can produce radiation-damage-free room-temperature structures. Ligand-binding studies using SFX have received only modest attention, partly owing to limited beamtime availability and the large quantity of sample that is required per structure determination. Here, a high-throughput approach to determine room-temperature damage-free structures with excellent sample and time efficiency is demonstrated, allowing complexes to be characterized rapidly and without prohibitive sample requirements. This yields high-quality difference density maps allowing unambiguous ligand placement. Crucially, it is demonstrated that ligands similar in size or smaller than those used in fragment-based drug design may be clearly identified in data sets obtained from <1000 diffraction images. This efficiency in both sample and XFEL beamtime opens the door to true high-throughput screening of protein-ligand complexes using SFX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeo Moreno-Chicano
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Ali Ebrahim
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Danny Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Martin V. Appleby
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - John H. Beale
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Amanda K. Chaplin
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Helen M. E. Duyvesteyn
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Division of Structural Biology (STRUBI), University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, England
| | - Reza A. Ghiladi
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204, USA
| | - Shigeki Owada
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Darren A. Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Richard W. Strange
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | | | - Kensuke Tono
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Jonathan A. R. Worrall
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Michael A. Hough
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
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30
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Mehrabi P, Schulz EC, Agthe M, Horrell S, Bourenkov G, von Stetten D, Leimkohl JP, Schikora H, Schneider TR, Pearson AR, Tellkamp F, Miller RJD. Liquid application method for time-resolved analyses by serial synchrotron crystallography. Nat Methods 2019; 16:979-982. [DOI: 10.1038/s41592-019-0553-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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31
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Jensen SC, Sullivan B, Hartzler DA, Pushkar Y. DIY XES - development of an inexpensive, versatile, and easy to fabricate XES analyzer and sample delivery system. X-RAY SPECTROMETRY : XRS 2019; 48:336-344. [PMID: 32606482 PMCID: PMC7326317 DOI: 10.1002/xrs.3005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The application of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) has grown substantially with the development of X-ray free electron lasers, third and fourth generation synchrotron sources and high-power benchtop sources. By providing the high X-ray flux required for XES, these sources broaden the availability and application of this method of probing electronic structure. As the number of sources increase, so does the demand for X-ray emission detection and sample delivery systems that are cost effective and customizable. Here, we present a detailed fabrication protocol for von Hamos X-ray optics and give details for a 3D-printed spectrometer design. Additionally, we outline an automated, externally triggered liquid sample delivery system that can be used to repeatedly deliver nanoliter droplets onto a plastic substrate for measurement. These systems are both low cost, efficient and easy to recreate or modify depending on the application. A low cost multiple X-ray analyzer system enables measurement of dilute samples, whereas the sample delivery limits sample loss and replaces spent sample with fresh sample in the same position. While both systems can be used in a wide range of applications, the design addresses several challenges associated specifically with time-resolved XES (TRXES). As an example application, we show results from TRXES measurements of photosystem II, a dilute, photoactive protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Jensen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Brendan Sullivan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Daniel A Hartzler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yulia Pushkar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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32
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Ebrahim A, Moreno-Chicano T, Appleby MV, Chaplin AK, Beale JH, Sherrell DA, Duyvesteyn HME, Owada S, Tono K, Sugimoto H, Strange RW, Worrall JAR, Axford D, Owen RL, Hough MA. Dose-resolved serial synchrotron and XFEL structures of radiation-sensitive metalloproteins. IUCRJ 2019; 6:543-551. [PMID: 31316799 PMCID: PMC6608622 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252519003956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
An approach is demonstrated to obtain, in a sample- and time-efficient manner, multiple dose-resolved crystal structures from room-temperature protein microcrystals using identical fixed-target supports at both synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). This approach allows direct comparison of dose-resolved serial synchrotron and damage-free XFEL serial femtosecond crystallography structures of radiation-sensitive proteins. Specifically, serial synchrotron structures of a heme peroxidase enzyme reveal that X-ray induced changes occur at far lower doses than those at which diffraction quality is compromised (the Garman limit), consistent with previous studies on the reduction of heme proteins by low X-ray doses. In these structures, a functionally relevant bond length is shown to vary rapidly as a function of absorbed dose, with all room-temperature synchrotron structures exhibiting linear deformation of the active site compared with the XFEL structure. It is demonstrated that extrapolation of dose-dependent synchrotron structures to zero dose can closely approximate the damage-free XFEL structure. This approach is widely applicable to any protein where the crystal structure is altered by the synchrotron X-ray beam and provides a solution to the urgent requirement to determine intact structures of such proteins in a high-throughput and accessible manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ebrahim
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Tadeo Moreno-Chicano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Martin V. Appleby
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Amanda K. Chaplin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - John H. Beale
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Darren A. Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Helen M. E. Duyvesteyn
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
- Division of Structural Biology (STRUBI), The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Shigeki Owada
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Kensuke Tono
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sugimoto
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - Richard W. Strange
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Jonathan A. R. Worrall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Danny Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Michael A. Hough
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
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Echelmeier A, Sonker M, Ros A. Microfluidic sample delivery for serial crystallography using XFELs. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:6535-6547. [PMID: 31250066 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-019-01977-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) with X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) is an emerging field for structural biology. One of its major impacts lies in the ability to reveal the structure of complex proteins previously inaccessible with synchrotron-based crystallography techniques and allowing time-resolved studies from femtoseconds to seconds. The nature of this serial technique requires new approaches for crystallization, data analysis, and sample delivery. With continued advancements in microfabrication techniques, various developments have been reported in the past decade for innovative and efficient microfluidic sample delivery for crystallography experiments using XFELs. This article summarizes the recent developments in microfluidic sample delivery with liquid injection and fixed-target approaches, which allow exciting new research with XFELs. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Echelmeier
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 871604, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA.,Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Box 875001, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
| | - Mukul Sonker
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 871604, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA.,Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Box 875001, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA
| | - Alexandra Ros
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 871604, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1604, USA. .,Center for Applied Structural Discovery, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Box 875001, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7401, USA.
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Nylon mesh-based sample holder for fixed-target serial femtosecond crystallography. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6971. [PMID: 31061502 PMCID: PMC6502819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43485-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Fixed-target serial femtosecond crystallography (FT-SFX) was an important advance in crystallography by dramatically reducing sample consumption, while maintaining the benefits of SFX for obtaining crystal structures at room temperature without radiation damage. Despite a number of advantages, preparation of a sample holder for the sample delivery in FT-SFX with the use of many crystals in a single mount at ambient temperature is challenging as it can be complicated and costly, and thus, development of an efficient sample holder is essential. In this study, we introduced a nylon mesh-based sample holder enclosed by a polyimide film. This sample holder can be rapidly manufactured using a commercially available nylon mesh with pores of a desired size at a low cost without challenging technology. Furthermore, this simple device is highly efficient in data acquisition. We performed FT-SFX using a nylon mesh-based sample holder and collected over 130,000 images on a single sample holder using a 30 Hz X-ray pulse for 1.2 h. We determined the crystal structures of lysozyme and glucose isomerase using the nylon mesh at 1.65 and 1.75 Å, respectively. The nylon mesh exposed to X-rays produced very low levels of background scattering at 3.75 and 4.30 Å, which are negligible for data analysis. Our method provides a simple and rapid but highly efficient way to deliver samples for FT-SFX.
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Nam KH. Sample Delivery Media for Serial Crystallography. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20051094. [PMID: 30836596 PMCID: PMC6429298 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20051094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
X-ray crystallographic methods can be used to visualize macromolecules at high resolution. This provides an understanding of molecular mechanisms and an insight into drug development and rational engineering of enzymes used in the industry. Although conventional synchrotron-based X-ray crystallography remains a powerful tool for understanding molecular function, it has experimental limitations, including radiation damage, cryogenic temperature, and static structural information. Serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) using X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) and serial millisecond crystallography (SMX) using synchrotron X-ray have recently gained attention as research methods for visualizing macromolecules at room temperature without causing or reducing radiation damage, respectively. These techniques provide more biologically relevant structures than traditional X-ray crystallography at cryogenic temperatures using a single crystal. Serial femtosecond crystallography techniques visualize the dynamics of macromolecules through time-resolved experiments. In serial crystallography (SX), one of the most important aspects is the delivery of crystal samples efficiently, reliably, and continuously to an X-ray interaction point. A viscous delivery medium, such as a carrier matrix, dramatically reduces sample consumption, contributing to the success of SX experiments. This review discusses the preparation and criteria for the selection and development of a sample delivery medium and its application for SX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Hyun Nam
- Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
- Institute of Life Science and Natural Resources, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
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36
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Wierman JL, Paré-Labrosse O, Sarracini A, Besaw JE, Cook MJ, Oghbaey S, Daoud H, Mehrabi P, Kriksunov I, Kuo A, Schuller DJ, Smith S, Ernst OP, Szebenyi DME, Gruner SM, Miller RJD, Finke AD. Fixed-target serial oscillation crystallography at room temperature. IUCRJ 2019; 6:305-316. [PMID: 30867928 PMCID: PMC6400179 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252519001453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
A fixed-target approach to high-throughput room-temperature serial synchrotron crystallography with oscillation is described. Patterned silicon chips with microwells provide high crystal-loading density with an extremely high hit rate. The microfocus, undulator-fed beamline at CHESS, which has compound refractive optics and a fast-framing detector, was built and optimized for this experiment. The high-throughput oscillation method described here collects 1-5° of data per crystal at room temperature with fast (10° s-1) oscillation rates and translation times, giving a crystal-data collection rate of 2.5 Hz. Partial datasets collected by the oscillation method at a storage-ring source provide more complete data per crystal than still images, dramatically lowering the total number of crystals needed for a complete dataset suitable for structure solution and refinement - up to two orders of magnitude fewer being required. Thus, this method is particularly well suited to instances where crystal quantities are low. It is demonstrated, through comparison of first and last oscillation images of two systems, that dose and the effects of radiation damage can be minimized through fast rotation and low angular sweeps for each crystal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivier Paré-Labrosse
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antoine Sarracini
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Jessica E. Besaw
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | | | - Saeed Oghbaey
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Hazem Daoud
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Pedram Mehrabi
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Anling Kuo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Scott Smith
- MacCHESS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Oliver P. Ernst
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sol M. Gruner
- MacCHESS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - R. J. Dwayne Miller
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Hamburg, Germany
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37
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Martiel I, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Cohen AE. Strategies for sample delivery for femtosecond crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:160-177. [PMID: 30821705 PMCID: PMC6400256 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318017953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly efficient data-collection methods are required for successful macromolecular crystallography (MX) experiments at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). XFEL beamtime is scarce, and the high peak brightness of each XFEL pulse destroys the exposed crystal volume. It is therefore necessary to combine diffraction images from a large number of crystals (hundreds to hundreds of thousands) to obtain a final data set, bringing about sample-refreshment challenges that have previously been unknown to the MX synchrotron community. In view of this experimental complexity, a number of sample delivery methods have emerged, each with specific requirements, drawbacks and advantages. To provide useful selection criteria for future experiments, this review summarizes the currently available sample delivery methods, emphasising the basic principles and the specific sample requirements. Two main approaches to sample delivery are first covered: (i) injector methods with liquid or viscous media and (ii) fixed-target methods using large crystals or using microcrystals inside multi-crystal holders or chips. Additionally, hybrid methods such as acoustic droplet ejection and crystal extraction are covered, which combine the advantages of both fixed-target and injector approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Martiel
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Henrike M. Müller-Werkmeister
- Institute of Chemistry – Physical Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Aina E. Cohen
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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Ebrahim A, Appleby MV, Axford D, Beale J, Moreno-Chicano T, Sherrell DA, Strange RW, Hough MA, Owen RL. Resolving polymorphs and radiation-driven effects in microcrystals using fixed-target serial synchrotron crystallography. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:151-159. [PMID: 30821704 PMCID: PMC6400251 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318010240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to determine high-quality, artefact-free structures is a challenge in micro-crystallography, and the rapid onset of radiation damage and requirement for a high-brilliance X-ray beam mean that a multi-crystal approach is essential. However, the combination of crystal-to-crystal variation and X-ray-induced changes can make the formation of a final complete data set challenging; this is particularly true in the case of metalloproteins, where X-ray-induced changes occur rapidly and at the active site. An approach is described that allows the resolution, separation and structure determination of crystal polymorphs, and the tracking of radiation damage in microcrystals. Within the microcrystal population of copper nitrite reductase, two polymorphs with different unit-cell sizes were successfully separated to determine two independent structures, and an X-ray-driven change between these polymorphs was followed. This was achieved through the determination of multiple serial structures from microcrystals using a high-throughput high-speed fixed-target approach coupled with robust data processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ebrahim
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Martin V. Appleby
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Danny Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - John Beale
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Tadeo Moreno-Chicano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Darren A. Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Richard W. Strange
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Michael A. Hough
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, England
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
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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: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [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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40
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Schulz EC, Mehrabi P, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Tellkamp F, Jha A, Stuart W, Persch E, De Gasparo R, Diederich F, Pai EF, Miller RJD. The hit-and-return system enables efficient time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography. Nat Methods 2018; 15:901-904. [DOI: 10.1038/s41592-018-0180-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Doak RB, Nass Kovacs G, Gorel A, Foucar L, Barends TRM, Grünbein ML, Hilpert M, Kloos M, Roome CM, Shoeman RL, Stricker M, Tono K, You D, Ueda K, Sherrell DA, Owen RL, Schlichting I. Crystallography on a chip - without the chip: sheet-on-sheet sandwich. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2018; 74:1000-1007. [PMID: 30289410 PMCID: PMC6173051 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798318011634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Crystallography chips are fixed-target supports consisting of a film (for example Kapton) or wafer (for example silicon) that is processed using semiconductor-microfabrication techniques to yield an array of wells or through-holes in which single microcrystals can be lodged for raster-scan probing. Although relatively expensive to fabricate, chips offer an efficient means of high-throughput sample presentation for serial diffraction data collection at synchrotron or X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) sources. Truly efficient loading of a chip (one microcrystal per well and no wastage during loading) is nonetheless challenging. The wells or holes must match the microcrystal size of interest, requiring that a large stock of chips be maintained. Raster scanning requires special mechanical drives to step the chip rapidly and with micrometre precision from well to well. Here, a `chip-less' adaptation is described that essentially eliminates the challenges of loading and precision scanning, albeit with increased, yet still relatively frugal, sample usage. The device consists simply of two sheets of Mylar with the crystal solution sandwiched between them. This sheet-on-sheet (SOS) sandwich structure has been employed for serial femtosecond crystallography data collection with micrometre-sized crystals at an XFEL. The approach is also well suited to time-resolved pump-probe experiments, in particular for long time delays. The SOS sandwich enables measurements under XFEL beam conditions that would damage conventional chips, as documented here. The SOS sheets hermetically seal the sample, avoiding desiccation of the sample provided that the X-ray beam does not puncture the sheets. This is the case with a synchrotron beam but not with an XFEL beam. In the latter case, desiccation, setting radially outwards from each punched hole, sets lower limits on the speed and line spacing of the raster scan. It is shown that these constraints are easily accommodated.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Bruce Doak
- 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
| | - Alexander Gorel
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lutz Foucar
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas R. M. Barends
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie Luise Grünbein
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mario Hilpert
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Kloos
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christopher M. Roome
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert L. Shoeman
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Miriam Stricker
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kensuke Tono
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - Daehyun You
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ueda
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Darren A. Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Ilme Schlichting
- Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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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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Grimes JM, Hall DR, Ashton AW, Evans G, Owen RL, Wagner A, McAuley KE, von Delft F, Orville AM, Sorensen T, Walsh MA, Ginn HM, Stuart DI. Where is crystallography going? Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2018; 74:152-166. [PMID: 29533241 PMCID: PMC5947779 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317016709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Macromolecular crystallography (MX) has been a motor for biology for over half a century and this continues apace. A series of revolutions, including the production of recombinant proteins and cryo-crystallography, have meant that MX has repeatedly reinvented itself to dramatically increase its reach. Over the last 30 years synchrotron radiation has nucleated a succession of advances, ranging from detectors to optics and automation. These advances, in turn, open up opportunities. For instance, a further order of magnitude could perhaps be gained in signal to noise for general synchrotron experiments. In addition, X-ray free-electron lasers offer to capture fragments of reciprocal space without radiation damage, and open up the subpicosecond regime of protein dynamics and activity. But electrons have recently stolen the limelight: so is X-ray crystallography in rude health, or will imaging methods, especially single-particle electron microscopy, render it obsolete for the most interesting biology, whilst electron diffraction enables structure determination from even the smallest crystals? We will lay out some information to help you decide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Grimes
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, England
| | - David R. Hall
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Alun W. Ashton
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Gwyndaf Evans
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Robin L. Owen
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Armin Wagner
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, England
| | - Katherine E. McAuley
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
| | - Frank von Delft
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, England
| | - Allen M. Orville
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, England
| | - Thomas Sorensen
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, England
| | - Martin A. Walsh
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0FA, England
| | - Helen M. Ginn
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, England
| | - David I. Stuart
- Science Division, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, England
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, England
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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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Santoni G, Zander U, Mueller-Dieckmann C, Leonard G, Popov A. Hierarchical clustering for multiple-crystal macromolecular crystallography experiments: the ccCluster program. J Appl Crystallogr 2017; 50:1844-1851. [PMID: 29217993 PMCID: PMC5713145 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576717015229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The ccCluster program provides an easy-to-use interface to perform hierarchical cluster analysis on protein diffraction datasets. This article describes ccCluster, a software providing an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and multiple functions to perform hierarchical cluster analysis on multiple crystallographic datasets. The program makes it easier for users to choose, in the case of multi-crystal data collection, those datasets that will be merged together to give good final statistics. It provides a simple GUI to analyse the dendrogram and various options for automated clustering and data merging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Santoni
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Ulrich Zander
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.,EMBL Grenoble, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, CEDEX 9, France
| | - Christoph Mueller-Dieckmann
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Gordon Leonard
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexander Popov
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
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46
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Schulz EC, Kaub J, Busse F, Mehrabi P, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Pai EF, Robertson WD, Miller RJD. Protein crystals IR laser ablated from aqueous solution at high speed retain their diffractive properties: applications in high-speed serial crystallography. J Appl Crystallogr 2017. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576717014479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to utilize the high repetition rates now available at X-ray free-electron laser sources for serial crystallography, methods must be developed to softly deliver large numbers of individual microcrystals at high repetition rates and high speeds. Picosecond infrared laser (PIRL) pulses, operating under desorption by impulsive vibrational excitation (DIVE) conditions, selectively excite the OH vibrational stretch of water to directly propel the excited volume at high speed with minimized heating effects, nucleation formation or cavitation-induced shock waves, leaving the analytes intact and undamaged. The soft nature and laser-based sampling flexibility provided by the technique make the PIRL system an interesting crystal delivery approach for serial crystallography. This paper demonstrates that protein crystals extracted directly from aqueous buffer solutionviaPIRL-DIVE ablation retain their diffractive properties and can be usefully exploited for structure determination at synchrotron sources. The remaining steps to implement the technology for high-speed serial femtosecond crystallography, such as single-crystal localization, high-speed sampling and synchronization, are described. This proof-of-principle experiment demonstrates the viability of a new laser-based high-speed crystal delivery system without the need for liquid-jet injectors or fixed-target mounting solutions.
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47
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Seddon EA, Clarke JA, Dunning DJ, Masciovecchio C, Milne CJ, Parmigiani F, Rugg D, Spence JCH, Thompson NR, Ueda K, Vinko SM, Wark JS, Wurth W. Short-wavelength free-electron laser sources and science: a review. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2017; 80:115901. [PMID: 29059048 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/aa7cca] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This review is focused on free-electron lasers (FELs) in the hard to soft x-ray regime. The aim is to provide newcomers to the area with insights into: the basic physics of FELs, the qualities of the radiation they produce, the challenges of transmitting that radiation to end users and the diversity of current scientific applications. Initial consideration is given to FEL theory in order to provide the foundation for discussion of FEL output properties and the technical challenges of short-wavelength FELs. This is followed by an overview of existing x-ray FEL facilities, future facilities and FEL frontiers. To provide a context for information in the above sections, a detailed comparison of the photon pulse characteristics of FEL sources with those of other sources of high brightness x-rays is made. A brief summary of FEL beamline design and photon diagnostics then precedes an overview of FEL scientific applications. Recent highlights are covered in sections on structural biology, atomic and molecular physics, photochemistry, non-linear spectroscopy, shock physics, solid density plasmas. A short industrial perspective is also included to emphasise potential in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Seddon
- ASTeC, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, Cheshire, WA4 4AD, United Kingdom. The School of Physics and Astronomy and Photon Science Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom. The Cockcroft Institute, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, Cheshire, WA4 4AD, United Kingdom
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48
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Papp G, Felisaz F, Sorez C, Lopez-Marrero M, Janocha R, Manjasetty B, Gobbo A, Belrhali H, Bowler MW, Cipriani F. FlexED8: the first member of a fast and flexible sample-changer family for macromolecular crystallography. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 73:841-851. [PMID: 28994413 PMCID: PMC5633909 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317013596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A sample changer based on a six-axis industrial robot and a new sample-storage dewar with an ice-cleaning feature have been developed to open automated X-ray crystallography beamlines to new sample-holder models, such as miniSPINE and NewPin, while remaining compatible with the widespread SPINE sample-holder standard. Automated sample changers are now standard equipment for modern macromolecular crystallography synchrotron beamlines. Nevertheless, most are only compatible with a single type of sample holder and puck. Recent work aimed at reducing sample-handling efforts and crystal-alignment times at beamlines has resulted in a new generation of compact and precise sample holders for cryocrystallography: miniSPINE and NewPin [see the companion paper by Papp et al. (2017, Acta Cryst., D73, 829–840)]. With full data collection now possible within seconds at most advanced beamlines, and future fourth-generation synchrotron sources promising to extract data in a few tens of milliseconds, the time taken to mount and centre a sample is rate-limiting. In this context, a versatile and fast sample changer, FlexED8, has been developed that is compatible with the highly successful SPINE sample holder and with the miniSPINE and NewPin sample holders. Based on a six-axis industrial robot, FlexED8 is equipped with a tool changer and includes a novel open sample-storage dewar with a built-in ice-filtering system. With seven versatile puck slots, it can hold up to 112 SPINE sample holders in uni-pucks, or 252 miniSPINE or NewPin sample holders, with 36 samples per puck. Additionally, a double gripper, compatible with the SPINE sample holders and uni-pucks, allows a reduction in the sample-exchange time from 40 s, the typical time with a standard single gripper, to less than 5 s. Computer vision-based sample-transfer monitoring, sophisticated error handling and automatic error-recovery procedures ensure high reliability. The FlexED8 sample changer has been successfully tested under real conditions on a beamline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Papp
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Franck Felisaz
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Clement Sorez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Marcos Lopez-Marrero
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Robert Janocha
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Babu Manjasetty
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexandre Gobbo
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Hassan Belrhali
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Matthew W Bowler
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Florent Cipriani
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
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49
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Papp G, Rossi C, Janocha R, Sorez C, Lopez-Marrero M, Astruc A, McCarthy A, Belrhali H, Bowler MW, Cipriani F. Towards a compact and precise sample holder for macromolecular crystallography. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 73:829-840. [PMID: 28994412 PMCID: PMC5633908 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798317013742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most of the sample holders currently used in macromolecular crystallography offer limited storage density and poor initial crystal-positioning precision upon mounting on a goniometer. This has now become a limiting factor at high-throughput beamlines, where data collection can be performed in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, this lack of precision limits the potential benefits emerging from automated harvesting systems that could provide crystal-position information which would further enhance alignment at beamlines. This situation provided the motivation for the development of a compact and precise sample holder with corresponding pucks, handling tools and robotic transfer protocols. The development process included four main phases: design, prototype manufacture, testing with a robotic sample changer and validation under real conditions on a beamline. Two sample-holder designs are proposed: NewPin and miniSPINE. They share the same robot gripper and allow the storage of 36 sample holders in uni-puck footprint-style pucks, which represents 252 samples in a dry-shipping dewar commonly used in the field. The pucks are identified with human- and machine-readable codes, as well as with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. NewPin offers a crystal-repositioning precision of up to 10 µm but requires a specific goniometer socket. The storage density could reach 64 samples using a special puck designed for fully robotic handling. miniSPINE is less precise but uses a goniometer mount compatible with the current SPINE standard. miniSPINE is proposed for the first implementation of the new standard, since it is easier to integrate at beamlines. An upgraded version of the SPINE sample holder with a corresponding puck named SPINEplus is also proposed in order to offer a homogenous and interoperable system. The project involved several European synchrotrons and industrial companies in the fields of consumables and sample-changer robotics. Manual handling of miniSPINE was tested at different institutes using evaluation kits, and pilot beamlines are being equipped with compatible robotics for large-scale evaluation. A companion paper describes a new sample changer FlexED8 (Papp et al., 2017, Acta Cryst., D73, 841-851).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergely Papp
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Christopher Rossi
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Robert Janocha
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Clement Sorez
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Marcos Lopez-Marrero
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthony Astruc
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Andrew McCarthy
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Hassan Belrhali
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Matthew W Bowler
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Florent Cipriani
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS 90181, 38042 Grenoble, France
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50
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Epp SW, Hada M, Zhong Y, Kumagai Y, Motomura K, Mizote S, Ono T, Owada S, Axford D, Bakhtiarzadeh S, Fukuzawa H, Hayashi Y, Katayama T, Marx A, Müller-Werkmeister HM, Owen RL, Sherrell DA, Tono K, Ueda K, Westermeier F, Miller RJD. Time zero determination for FEL pump-probe studies based on ultrafast melting of bismuth. STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (MELVILLE, N.Y.) 2017; 4:054308. [PMID: 29152535 PMCID: PMC5658228 DOI: 10.1063/1.4999701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
A common challenge for pump-probe studies of structural dynamics at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) is the determination of time zero (T0)-the time an optical pulse (e.g., an optical laser) arrives coincidently with the probe pulse (e.g., a XFEL pulse) at the sample position. In some cases, T0 might be extracted from the structural dynamics of the sample's observed response itself, but generally, an independent robust method is required or would be superior to the inferred determination of T0. In this paper, we present how the structural dynamics in ultrafast melting of bismuth can be exploited for a quickly performed, reliable and accurate determination of T0 with a precision below 20 fs and an overall experimental accuracy of 50 fs to 150 fs (estimated). Our approach is potentially useful and applicable for fixed-target XFEL experiments, such as serial femtosecond crystallography, utilizing an optical pump pulse in the ultraviolet to near infrared spectral range and a pixelated 2D photon detector for recording crystallographic diffraction patterns in transmission geometry. In comparison to many other suitable approaches, our method is fairly independent of the pumping wavelength (UV-IR) as well as of the X-ray energy and offers a favorable signal contrast. The technique is exploitable not only for the determination of temporal characteristics of the experiment at the interaction point but also for investigating important conditions affecting experimental control such as spatial overlap and beam spot sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S W Epp
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Hada
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Y Zhong
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Y Kumagai
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - K Motomura
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - S Mizote
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - T Ono
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - S Owada
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
| | - D Axford
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | | | - H Fukuzawa
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Y Hayashi
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | | | - A Marx
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - R L Owen
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - D A Sherrell
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | | | - K Ueda
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - F Westermeier
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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