X-Ray Crystallograpy
by Wenshe Liu

 

X-ray protein crystallography is an experimental technique that is employed to solve three dimensional protein crystal structures. It exploits the fact that protein crystals diffract x-rays. X-rays have proper wavelengths (e.g. 1.514 Å for Cu generator) and can be scattered by the electron cloud of atoms. The diffraction pattern obtained from x-rays scattering off periodic assembly of molecules or atoms in the crystals, along with the additional phases obtained from either supplemental diffraction experiments or similar molecular models, can be used to construct electron density maps and build crystal structures.

The knowledge of protein structure is an essential prerequisite for rational drug design, structural functional and mechanistic studies of proteins or enzymes. In our lab, we use x-ray crystallography with computer graphics to establish the molecular architectures of proteins or enzymes and facilitate mechanistic studies and drug design.

 

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