Sheet-on-sheet fixed target data collection devices for serial crystallography at synchrotron and XFEL sources

Area of Science:

• Structural Biology
• Crystallography
• Biophysics

Background:

• Serial crystallography (SX) enables sample structure determination at ambient temperatures by distributing radiation dose across multiple crystals.
• Current SX methods often utilize 'solid supports' with patterned features for crystal deposition, which can be complex and costly.
• A simpler, more versatile alternative involves sandwiching microcrystals between polymer sheets, known as sheet-on-sheet (SOS) chips.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe two novel sheet-on-sheet (SOS) chip devices for serial crystallography.
• To present SOS chips as a simpler, more versatile, and cost-effective alternative to traditional patterned solid supports.
• To demonstrate the compatibility of SOS chips with existing synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser infrastructure.

Main Methods:

• Development of two SOS chip devices: a compact synchrotron version and a larger version for synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) use.
• Utilizing unpatterned X-ray-transparent polymer sheets to sandwich microcrystals, allowing flexibility in crystal size and growth conditions.
• Designing the larger chip for compatibility with fast-scanning XY-raster stages used in high-throughput data collection.

Main Results:

• The developed SOS chips provide a simpler and less expensive approach to crystal handling for serial crystallography.
• SOS chips accommodate a wide range of crystal sizes, from nanocrystals to microcrystals, and various growth media.
• The devices are designed for seamless integration with standard macromolecular crystallography goniometers and advanced XFEL data collection systems.

Conclusions:

• Sheet-on-sheet (SOS) chips represent a significant advancement in simplifying and enhancing serial crystallography workflows.
• These devices offer greater versatility in crystal preparation and handling compared to traditional patterned supports.
• SOS chips facilitate efficient ambient temperature structure determination, making advanced crystallographic techniques more accessible.