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

5.0K
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...
5.0K
X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

26.5K
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...
26.5K
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

12
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...
12
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

10.3K
The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
10.3K
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells01:19

Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

2.8K
Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
2.8K
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane01:24

Protein Diffusion in the Membrane

6.0K
Proteins show rotational as well as lateral diffusion across the membrane. The lateral diffusion of proteins was confirmed through the cell fusion experiment where mouse and human cells were fused, resulting in hybrid cells. When the human and mouse cells fused, the specific membrane proteins on human and mouse cells were marked with the red and green-fluorescent markers, respectively. Initially, the red and green fluorescence was located on the respective hemisphere of the cell. As time...
6.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Structure and assembly of filamentous bacteriophages.

Progress in biophysics and molecular biology·2014
Same author

Consensus structure of Pf1 filamentous bacteriophage from X-ray fibre diffraction and solid-state NMR.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2010
Same author

The hand of the filamentous bacteriophage helix.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2008
Same author

On the structures of filamentous bacteriophage Ff (fd, f1, M13).

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2007
Same author

Molecular structure of fd (f1, M13) filamentous bacteriophage refined with respect to X-ray fibre diffraction and solid-state NMR data supports specific models of phage assembly at the bacterial membrane.

Journal of molecular biology·2005
Same author

The protein capsid of filamentous bacteriophage PH75 from Thermus thermophilus.

Journal of molecular biology·2001

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering
07:19

Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering

Published on: November 5, 2018

13.4K

Fibre diffraction studies of biological macromolecules.

D A Marvin1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK.

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|April 27, 2017
PubMed
Summary

X-ray fiber diffraction, though niche, is crucial for determining structures like DNA and alpha-helices. This technique provides essential insights into biological macromolecules when other methods are insufficient.

Keywords:
Bacterial piliCryo-electron microscopyDNA structureFibre diffractionFilamentous bacteriophage

More Related Videos

Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Studies of Biological Macromolecules in Solution
12:53

Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Studies of Biological Macromolecules in Solution

Published on: January 8, 2013

18.8K
Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene
08:44

Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene

Published on: August 22, 2017

8.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering
07:19

Structural Studies of Macromolecules in Solution using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering

Published on: November 5, 2018

13.4K
Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Studies of Biological Macromolecules in Solution
12:53

Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Studies of Biological Macromolecules in Solution

Published on: January 8, 2013

18.8K
Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene
08:44

Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene

Published on: August 22, 2017

8.1K

Area of Science:

  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics
  • X-ray Diffraction

Background:

  • X-ray fiber diffraction is an underutilized technique in structural biology.
  • It has been instrumental in determining fundamental biological structures such as DNA and the alpha-helix.
  • The technique's application is limited to specific types of biological macromolecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a tutorial on X-ray fiber diffraction mathematics and methods.
  • To illustrate the utility of fiber diffraction through case studies.
  • To encourage researchers to consider fiber diffraction for their structural biology needs.

Main Methods:

  • Mathematical principles of helix diffraction.
  • Analysis of X-ray fiber diffraction patterns.
  • Case studies of DNA, filamentous bacterial viruses, and bacterial pili.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated the indispensable role of fiber diffraction in specific structural biology cases.
  • Provided a detailed overview of methods for obtaining and analyzing fiber diffraction data.
  • Highlighted the successful application of the technique to diverse biological macromolecules.

Conclusions:

  • X-ray fiber diffraction remains a valuable, albeit niche, technique for structural biology.
  • The methods described can aid researchers in applying fiber diffraction to their work.
  • Further exploration of fiber diffraction applications is warranted for various biological structures.