Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Spotting Cheetahs: Identifying Individuals by Their Footprints
Published on: May 1, 2016
Development of Synchrotron Footprinting at NSLS and NSLS-II
1Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.
Background:
First developed in the 1990's at the National Synchrotron Light Source, xray synchrotron footprinting is an ideal technique for the analysis of solution-state structure and dynamics of macromolecules. Hydroxyl radicals generated in aqueous samples by intense x-ray beams serve as fine probes of solvent accessibility, rapidly and irreversibly reacting with solvent exposed residues to provide a "snapshot" of the sample state at the time of exposure. Over the last few decades, improvements in instrumentation to expand the technology have continuously pushed the boundaries of biological systems that can be studied using the technique.
Conclusion:
Dedicated synchrotron beamlines provide important resources for examining fundamental biological mechanisms of folding, ligand binding, catalysis, transcription, translation, and macromolecular assembly. The legacy of synchrotron footprinting at NSLS has led to significant improvement in our understanding of many biological systems, from identifying key structural components in enzymes and transporters to in vivo studies of ribosome assembly. This work continues at the XFP (17-BM) beamline at NSLS-II and facilities at ALS, which are currently accepting proposals for use.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sustainable Development
Development of the Lymphatic System
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...
Language Development
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
Fruit Development, Structure, and Function

