Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography

Abstract Serial crystallography (SX) enables the visualization of the time-resolved molecular dynamics of macromolecular structures at room temperature while minimizing radiation damage. In SX experiments, the delivery of a large number of crystals into an X-ray interaction point in a serial and sta...

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Main Author: Ki Hyun Nam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04714-6
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author Ki Hyun Nam
author_facet Ki Hyun Nam
author_sort Ki Hyun Nam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Serial crystallography (SX) enables the visualization of the time-resolved molecular dynamics of macromolecular structures at room temperature while minimizing radiation damage. In SX experiments, the delivery of a large number of crystals into an X-ray interaction point in a serial and stable manner is key. Sample delivery using viscous medium maintains the stable injection stream at low flow rates, markedly reducing sample consumption compared with that of a liquid jet injector and is widely applied in SX experiments with low repetition rates. As the sample properties and experimental environment can affect the stability of the injection stream of a viscous medium, it is important to develop sample delivery media with various characteristics to optimize the experimental environment. In this study, a beef tallow injection matrix possessing a higher melting temperature than previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media was introduced as a sample delivery medium and applied to SX. Beef tallow was prepared by heat treating fats from cattle, followed by the removal of soluble impurities from the extract by phase separation. Beef tallow exhibited a very stable injection stream at room temperature and a flow rate of < 10 nL/min. The room-temperature structures of lysozyme and glucose isomerase embedded in beef tallow were successfully determined at 1.55 and 1.60 Å, respectively. The background scattering of beef tallow was higher than that of previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media but negligible for data processing. In conclusion, the beef tallow matrix can be employed for sample delivery in SX experiments conducted at temperatures exceeding room temperature.
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spelling doaj.art-fd08376931f04c2190fafee6d29569db2022-12-22T04:09:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-0112111010.1038/s41598-021-04714-6Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallographyKi Hyun Nam0Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Serial crystallography (SX) enables the visualization of the time-resolved molecular dynamics of macromolecular structures at room temperature while minimizing radiation damage. In SX experiments, the delivery of a large number of crystals into an X-ray interaction point in a serial and stable manner is key. Sample delivery using viscous medium maintains the stable injection stream at low flow rates, markedly reducing sample consumption compared with that of a liquid jet injector and is widely applied in SX experiments with low repetition rates. As the sample properties and experimental environment can affect the stability of the injection stream of a viscous medium, it is important to develop sample delivery media with various characteristics to optimize the experimental environment. In this study, a beef tallow injection matrix possessing a higher melting temperature than previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media was introduced as a sample delivery medium and applied to SX. Beef tallow was prepared by heat treating fats from cattle, followed by the removal of soluble impurities from the extract by phase separation. Beef tallow exhibited a very stable injection stream at room temperature and a flow rate of < 10 nL/min. The room-temperature structures of lysozyme and glucose isomerase embedded in beef tallow were successfully determined at 1.55 and 1.60 Å, respectively. The background scattering of beef tallow was higher than that of previously reported fat-based shortening and lard media but negligible for data processing. In conclusion, the beef tallow matrix can be employed for sample delivery in SX experiments conducted at temperatures exceeding room temperature.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04714-6
spellingShingle Ki Hyun Nam
Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
Scientific Reports
title Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
title_full Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
title_fullStr Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
title_full_unstemmed Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
title_short Beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
title_sort beef tallow injection matrix for serial crystallography
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04714-6
work_keys_str_mv AT kihyunnam beeftallowinjectionmatrixforserialcrystallography