Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are  scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The  X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Lysozyme revisited: evaluating models of a reference protein in structural biology.

Current research in structural biology·2026
Same author

The distinct trimeric structure of the immunodominant chlamydial antigen Major Outer Membrane Protein.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Intradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase Tetur07g05930 originating from major agricultural pest Tetranychus urticae is active in monomeric and dimeric forms.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·2026
Same author

Analysis of the heterogenous structural states of the hexameric ATPase PilU of the type IV pili from Vibrio cholerae.

Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society·2026
Same author

Molecular sensitization patterns to mammalian allergens - possible impact on diagnostics and therapy.

Molecular immunology·2026
Same author

Crystallographic and EPR-based characterisation of Cu<sup>2+</sup>-binding to serum albumin: ATCUN coordination and additional sites.

Inorganic chemistry frontiers·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
09:16

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects

Published on: June 8, 2016

X-ray diffraction experiment--the last experiment in the structure elucidation process.

Maksymilian Chruszcz1, Dominika Borek, Marcin Domagalski

  • 1Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.

Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology
|July 29, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Recent advances in X-ray diffraction methods enable faster and more accurate macromolecular structure determination. This review highlights these developments and their impact on structure-based drug discovery.

More Related Videos

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092
08:53

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092

Published on: October 2, 2017

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography
11:48

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

Published on: April 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
09:16

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects

Published on: June 8, 2016

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092
08:53

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Carbohydrate Transport Substrate-binding-protein SP0092

Published on: October 2, 2017

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography
11:48

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

Published on: April 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • The field of structural biology has seen rapid growth in macromolecular structure data.
  • Advances in protein structure determination methodologies are increasingly impacting drug discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent methodology developments in X-ray diffraction experiments.
  • To discuss the role of data collection in macromolecular structure determination.
  • To present a statistical analysis of diffraction experiments in the Protein Data Bank (PDB).

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advancements in X-ray diffraction techniques.
  • Analysis of data collection strategies in crystallography.
  • Statistical analysis of structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB).

Main Results:

  • New X-ray diffraction methods allow for rapid and precise elucidation of macromolecular 3D structures.
  • Data collection is a critical final step in crystal structure determination.
  • Analysis of PDB data provides insights into current experimental practices.

Conclusions:

  • Methodology advancements in X-ray diffraction are crucial for structure-based drug discovery.
  • Optimized data collection is key to accurate macromolecular structure determination.
  • The findings offer valuable insights for researchers in structural biology and drug development.