AI Article Synopsis

  • A key aim of X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) research is to analyze biological molecules without crystals, using filament systems that bridge the gap between crystals and single molecules.
  • The study shows successful flow alignment of a small number of filaments (like E. coli pili and F-actin) which, when hit by femtosecond X-ray pulses, produce diffraction patterns similar to traditional fiber diffraction.
  • The research reveals that gelsolin amyloids consist of stacked β-strands perpendicular to the filament axis, and demonstrates varying levels of order in α-synuclein amyloids, ranging from fibrillar to crystalline structures.

Article Abstract

A major goal for X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) based science is to elucidate structures of biological molecules without the need for crystals. Filament systems may provide some of the first single macromolecular structures elucidated by XFEL radiation, since they contain one-dimensional translational symmetry and thereby occupy the diffraction intensity region between the extremes of crystals and single molecules. Here, we demonstrate flow alignment of as few as 100 filaments (Escherichia coli pili, F-actin, and amyloid fibrils), which when intersected by femtosecond X-ray pulses result in diffraction patterns similar to those obtained from classical fiber diffraction studies. We also determine that F-actin can be flow-aligned to a disorientation of approximately 5 degrees. Using this XFEL-based technique, we determine that gelsolin amyloids are comprised of stacked β-strands running perpendicular to the filament axis, and that a range of order from fibrillar to crystalline is discernable for individual α-synuclein amyloids.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cm.21378DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

fiber diffraction
8
femtosecond x-ray
8
x-ray free-electron
8
free-electron laser
8
flow-aligned single-shot
4
single-shot fiber
4
diffraction
4
diffraction femtosecond
4
laser major
4
major goal
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!