Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

07:55
An All-in-one Sample Holder for Macromolecular X-ray Crystallography with Minimal Background Scattering
Published on: July 6, 2019
13.8K
Crystallography and Its Impact on Carbonic Anhydrase Research
Carrie L Lomelino1, Jacob T Andring1, Robert McKenna1
1University of Florida College of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
International Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
|October 11, 2018
Summary
X-ray and neutron crystallography reveal biomolecular structures, aiding enzyme mechanism and drug design. This review highlights crystallography
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- X-ray and neutron crystallography are key techniques for determining biomolecular structures.
- Understanding enzyme structure, including intermediate states, is crucial for elucidating catalytic mechanisms and designing inhibitors.
- Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc metalloenzymes vital for CO2 hydration, implicated in various physiological functions and diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and impact of crystallography on carbonic anhydrase (CA) research.
- To illustrate how structural insights from crystallography facilitate understanding of enzyme mechanisms and drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography
- Neutron crystallography
- Structure-based drug design
Main Results:
- Crystallography has provided detailed structures of enzymes like carbonic anhydrase.
- Structural analysis reveals enzyme-substrate interactions and mechanisms of inhibition.
- Structure-guided approaches support the development of novel therapeutic inhibitors.
Conclusions:
- Crystallography is indispensable for understanding enzyme function and mechanisms.
- Carbonic anhydrases are important drug targets, and structural studies guide inhibitor development.
- The historical application of crystallography has significantly advanced CA research.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Crystallography
26.2K
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...
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...
26.2K
The Carbon Cycle
43.8K
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
43.8K
Carbon Skeletons
115.1K
Life on Earth is carbon-based, as all macromolecules that make up living organisms contain carbon atoms. All organic compounds have a carbon backbone. Each carbon atom is tetravalent and can bond with four other atoms, making it an extraordinarily flexible component of biological molecules. Because carbon’s valence electrons are stable, it rarely becomes an ion. As the carbon chain increases in length, structural modifications such as ring structures, double bonds, and branching side...
115.1K
Impact of Groups on Groups
249
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
249
Impact
499
Impact occurs when two bodies collide, leading to the application of impulsive forces between them. Analyzing impact mechanics involves considering two colliding particles moving along a line known as the line of impact, which passes through their centers and is perpendicular to the contact plane.
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
When particles with different initial velocities collide, they induce deformation by applying equal and opposite impulses. At the point of maximum deformation, the particles move together with...
499
Carbonation Shrinkage
482
Atmospheric CO2 penetrates the concrete's pores and, in the presence of moisture, forms carbonic acid, which then reacts with calcium hydroxide in the hydrated cement, forming calcium carbonate. This process reduces the concrete's volume and is termed carbonation shrinkage.
The concrete's permeability is slightly reduced as calcium carbonate produced during the reaction fills its pores. Furthermore, its strength is slightly enhanced as the water released during the reaction...
The concrete's permeability is slightly reduced as calcium carbonate produced during the reaction fills its pores. Furthermore, its strength is slightly enhanced as the water released during the reaction...
482

