Significant anisotropic deformation and optical shifts in stretched cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers.

This study explores the opto-mechanical response of cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) subjected to uniaxial stretching along the -axis, perpendicular to their helical -axis. A definitive crossover is observed in the strain () dependencies of various optical and mechanical properties, such as the transmission spectra, degree of mesogen orientation, Poisson's ratios, and tensile stress. At low strains, CLCEs exhibit a blue shift in the selective reflection band due to a reduction in the helical pitch, accompanied by a decrease in reflection selectivity for circularly polarized light.

Alignment and use of microbeam with full-field x-ray microscopes.

Demonstration tests of the alignment of Fresnel zone plate focusing optics using a full-field x-ray microscope and microbeam x-ray diffraction measurements combined with the full-field x-ray microscope were performed. It was confirmed that the full-field x-ray microscope enables direct two-dimensional observation of a microbeam with sub-micrometer spatial resolution. This allowed visualization of the misalignment of the focusing optics, resulting in accurate alignment of the optics within a short time.

X-ray zooming optics for analyzer-based multi-contrast computed tomography.

An X-ray analyzer-based optics with a zoom function is proposed for observing various samples with apparent-absorption contrast, phase contrast and scattering contrast. The proposed X-ray optics consists of a collimator crystal and an analyzer crystal arranged in a nondispersive (+, -) geometry with a sample placed between them. For the implementation of the zoom function, an asymmetrically cut crystal in the rotated-inclined geometry was used for the analyzer.

X-ray zooming microscopy with two Fresnel zone plates.

We propose a variable-magnification full-field x-ray microscope using two Fresnel zone plates (FZPs). By moving the positions of the two FZPs, the magnification can be continuously changed even if the sample and camera positions are fixed. It was demonstrated that the magnification can be changed in the range of 25-150× using a hard x-ray beam at 14.

Conceptual design of the Hybrid Ring with superconducting linac.

The Hybrid Ring with a superconducting-linac injector as a highly flexible synchrotron radiation source to enable new experimental techniques and enhance many existing ones is proposed. It is designed to be operated with the coexistence of the storage (SR) bunches characterized by the performance of the storage ring, and the single-pass (SP) bunches characterized by the performance of the superconducting linac. Unique experiments can be performed by simultaneous use of the SR and SP beams, in addition to research with various experimental techniques utilizing the versatile SR beam and research in the field of ultrafast dynamics utilizing the ultrashort pulse of the SP beam.

Stress-Strain and Stress-Relaxation Behaviors of Solution-Coated Layers Composed of Block Copolymers Mixed with Tackifiers.

The relationship between the mechanical properties and the structure of block copolymers mixed with tackifiers whose relative solubility to the respective components of block copolymers differs was examined. Coated layers were prepared by solution coating using a block copolymer composed of polystyrene (PS) and polyisoprene (PI), which forms spherical microdomains of PS in the PI matrix, mixed with three types of tackifiers: aliphatic (C5) resin, aliphatic-aromatic (C5-C9) resin, and rosin ester (RE) resin. Furthermore, the correlation between the changes in the nanostructure and mechanical properties including the stress-relaxation behaviors was clarified by two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering measurement.

Short-Distance Intermolecular Correlations of Mono- and Disaccharides in Condensed Solutions: Bulky Character of Trehalose.

Organisms with tolerance to extreme environmental conditions (cryptobiosis) such as desiccation and freezing are known to accumulate stress proteins and/or sugars. Trehalose, a disaccharide, has received considerable attention in the context of cryptobiosis. It has already been shown to have the highest glass-transition temperature and different hydration properties from other mono- and disaccharides.

Structural Evolution in Isothermal Crystallization Process of Poly(L-lactic acid) Enhanced by Silk Fibroin Nano-Disc.

The nucleating effect of silk fibroin nano-disc (SFN) on the crystallization behavior of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was investigated by simultaneous synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements. For the isothermal crystallization at 110 °C from the melt, the induction period of the PLLA specimens containing 1% SFN was reduced compared to that of the neat specimens, indicating the acceleration of the nucleation of PLLA. The final degree of crystallinity was also increased, and the crystallization half-time was decreased, which indicates that the overall crystallization process was accelerated.

Structure of Ultrafine Bubbles and Their Effects on Protein and Lipid Membrane Structures Studied by Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering.

Ultrafine bubbles (UFBs) are defined as small gas-filled bubbles with a diameter smaller than 1 μm. UFBs are stable for several weeks in aqueous solutions due to their small size. Although the mechanism of the stability of UFBs remains under intensive investigation, industrial applications of UFBs have recently arisen in various fields such as agricultural and fishery industries and medical therapy.

Restoration of Myoglobin Native Fold from Its Initial State of Amyloid Formation by Trehalose.

Organisms having tolerances against extreme environments produce and accumulate stress proteins and/or sugars in cells against the extreme environment such as high or low temperature, drying, and so forth. Sugars and/or polyols are known to prevent protein denaturation and enzyme deactivation. In particular, trehalose has received considerable attention because of its association with cryptobiosis and anhydrobiosis.

Preferential Intercalation of Human Amyloid-β Peptide into Interbilayer Region of Lipid-Raft Membrane in Macromolecular Crowding Environment.

This study focuses on the interaction of human amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) with a lipid-raft model membrane under macromolecular crowding conditions that mimic the intracellular environment. Aβ is central to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and has been studied extensively to determine the molecular mechanisms of Aβ-induced cellular dysfunctions underlying the pathogenesis of AD. According to evidence from spectroscopic studies, ganglioside clusters are key to the fibrillization process of Aβ.

Direct Evidence for the Effect of Glycerol on Protein Hydration and Thermal Structural Transition.

The mechanisms of protein stabilization by uncharged solutes, such as polyols and sugars, have been intensively studied with respect to the chemical thermodynamics of molecular crowding. In particular, many experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted to explain the mechanism of the protective action on protein structures by glycerol through the relationship between hydration and glycerol solvation on protein surfaces. We used wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), small-angle neutron scattering, and theoretical scattering function simulation to quantitatively characterize the hydration and/or solvation shell of myoglobin in aqueous solutions of up to 75% v/v glycerol.

Frank-Kasper σ phase in polybutadiene-poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymer/polybutadiene blends.

Microphase-separated structures in a polybutadiene-poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymer (PB-PCL)/polybutadiene homopolymer (PB) blend were investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Non-equilibrium spherical micelles were observed at temperatures ranging between 60 and 100 °C. An SAXS profile with  >60 scattering peaks was recorded at 140 °C.

Effect of protein-encapsulation on thermal structural stability of liposome composed of glycosphingolipid/cholesterol/phospholipid.

We have studied the thermal structural stability of liposomes encapsulating proteins by using synchrotron radiation small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SWAXS). Liposomes are known to be effective drug-delivery systems (DDSs) because they can reduce drug toxicity due to biodegradability and biocompatibility and can offer promising carriers of various types of drugs. However, in spite of numerous studies of liposomes, physicochemical characteristics of liposomes entrapping proteins are rarely known.

Improvements toward highly accurate diffraction experiments at the macromolecular micro-crystallography beamline BL-17A.

BL-17A is a macromolecular crystallography beamline dedicated to diffraction experiments conducted using micro-crystals and structure determination studies using a lower energy X-ray beam. In these experiments, highly accurate diffraction intensity measurements are definitively important. Since this beamline was constructed, the beamline apparatus has been improved in several ways to enable the collection of accurate diffraction data.

Structure of liposome encapsulating proteins characterized by X-ray scattering and shell-modeling.

Lipid liposomes are promising drug delivery systems because they have superior curative effects owing to their high adaptability to a living body. Lipid liposomes encapsulating proteins were constructed and the structures examined using synchrotron radiation small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SR-SWAXS). The liposomes were prepared by a sequential combination of natural swelling, ultrasonic dispersion, freeze-throw, extrusion and spin-filtration.

UV LED lighting for automated crystal centring.

A direct outcome of the exponential growth of macromolecular crystallography is the continuously increasing demand for synchrotron beam time, both from academic and industrial users. As more and more projects entail screening a profusion of sample crystals, fully automated procedures at every level of the experiments are being implemented at all synchrotron facilities. One of the major obstacles to achieving such automation lies in the sample recognition and centring in the X-ray beam.

Crystallization of small proteins assisted by green fluorescent protein.

The generation of crystal lattice contacts by proteinaceous tags fused to target proteins is an attractive approach to aid in the crystallization of otherwise intractable proteins. Here, the use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions for this purpose is demonstrated, using ubiquitin and the ubiquitin-binding motif (UBM) of Y-family polymerase ι as examples. The structure of the GFP-ubiquitin fusion protein revealed that the crystal lattice was formed by GFP moieties.

[Advancement of synchrotron radiation protein crystallography in the targeted protein research program: beamline developments at the photon factory].

The Targeted Protein Research Program (TPRP) started in 2007 as a sequel of the Protein 3000 Project which lasted from 2002 to 2007. In the new project, four cores, Protein Production, Structure Analysis, Control of Protein Functions with Compounds, and Informatics, have been established as focus of methodology developments critical for functional and structural studies by the target protein research teams. Within the "Analysis Core" synchrotron radiation plays a pivotal role providing X-ray beams for structural analyses of the target proteins.

Structural basis for tropomyosin overlap in thin (actin) filaments and the generation of a molecular swivel by troponin-T.

Head-to-tail polymerization of tropomyosin is crucial for its actin binding, function in actin filament assembly, and the regulation of actin-myosin contraction. Here, we describe the 2.1 A resolution structure of crystals containing overlapping tropomyosin N and C termini (TM-N and TM-C) and the 2.

High-throughput operation of sample-exchange robots with double tongs at the Photon Factory beamlines.

Sample-exchange robots that can exchange cryo-pins bearing protein crystals out of experimental hutches according to user instructions have been developed. The robots were designed based on the SAM (Stanford Synchrotron Research Laboratory automated mounting) system. In order to reduce the time required for the sample exchange, the single tongs of the SAM system were modified and a double-tongs system that can hold two cryo-pins at the same time was developed.

Implementation of remote monitoring and diffraction evaluation systems at the Photon Factory macromolecular crystallography beamlines.

Owing to recent advances in high-throughput technology in macromolecular crystallography beamlines, such as high-brilliant X-ray sources, high-speed readout detectors and robotics, the number of samples that can be examined in a single visit to the beamline has increased dramatically. In order to make these experiments more efficient, two functions, remote monitoring and diffraction image evaluation, have been implemented in the macromolecular crystallography beamlines at the Photon Factory (PF). Remote monitoring allows scientists to participate in the experiment by watching from their laboratories, without having to come to the beamline.