Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Preparing Adherent Cells for X-ray Fluorescence Imaging by Chemical Fixation
Published on: March 12, 2015
φXANES: In vivo imaging of metal-protein coordination environments
Simon A James1,2, Dominic J Hare1,3, Nicole L Jenkins1
1The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
Abstract:
We have developed an X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy method using fluorescence detection for visualizing in vivo coordination environments of metals in biological specimens. This approach, which we term fluorescence imaging XANES (φXANES), allows us to spatially depict metal-protein associations in a native, hydrated state whilst avoiding intrinsic chemical damage from radiation. This method was validated using iron-challenged Caenorhabditis elegans to observe marked alterations in redox environment.

