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$X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples$ 01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

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...

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Cryo-electron Microscopy

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X-ray Crystallography

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
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Viral Structure

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2025

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

Published on: July 20, 2022

X-Ray Crystallography of Viruses.

Núria Verdaguer¹, Cristina Ferrer-Orta², Damià Garriga³

¹Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona (CSIC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. nvmcri@ibmb.csic.es.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry

|December 31, 2024

Summary

X-ray crystallography has long been key for determining virus structures. Advances in detectors and automation, alongside cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), are revolutionizing viral research and drug discovery.

Keywords:

Molecular replacement Non-crystallographic symmetry Phase problem Structural virology Viral proteins Virus X-ray crystallography Virus capsid

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Last Updated: May 7, 2025

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

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Combining X-Ray Crystallography with Small Angle X-Ray Scattering to Model Unstructured Regions of Nsa1 from S. Cerevisiae

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Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

Area of Science:

Structural Biology
Virology
Biophysics

Background:

X-ray crystallography has been the primary method for high-resolution virus structure determination for decades.
Increasing complexity of viral structures has driven advancements in X-ray macromolecular crystallography (MX).

Purpose of the Study:

To present the common principles of protein and virus crystallography.
To highlight the specific aspects of virus structure studies using X-ray crystallography.

Main Methods:

X-ray crystallography (MX) for determining virus structures at near-atomic resolution.
Advancements in detector technology and automation at synchrotron and X-ray free-electron laser facilities.
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for high-resolution structural analysis of large viral particles.

Main Results:

X-ray crystallography has significantly advanced our understanding of the viral world.
New MX technologies enable high-throughput screening crucial for antiviral drug design.
Cryo-EM now offers comparable resolution to MX, becoming a preferred method for large viral assemblies.

Conclusions:

Modern X-ray crystallography techniques and cryo-EM are transforming viral structure determination.
These advancements are critical for understanding viruses and developing new antiviral therapies.