高级检索

用X射线自由电子激光拍摄分子电影

Making molecular movies with X-ray free electron lasers

  • 摘要: 作为生命活动的基本单元,蛋白质等生物大分子的功能与分子结构和动力学密切相关。X射线衍射和电子显微技术能够确定原子分辨率的分子结构,但是分子在“工作”期间的结构演化还需要大量的方法研究。X射线自由电子激光(XFEL)因其特有的超高亮度飞秒脉冲,成为捕捉动力学过程中分子结构变化的利器。文章介绍了基于XFEL的“泵浦—探测”时间分辨实验方法,通过捕捉蛋白质分子被激发之后特定时刻的结构,拍摄高分辨的分子电影,展现分子在实现功能过程中的精细动力学,为准确理解分子机理奠定了基础。

     

    Abstract: The biological functions of proteins are highly related to their structures and dynamics. The determination of protein structures at atomic resolution has advanced our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, thanks to the development of X- ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques, especially facilitated by computational algorithms and software. However, most studies are based on static structures, as it is challenging to probe the dynamics of proteins, i.e., the dynamical structures of “molecules-in-action”. The X-ray free electron lasers generate ultrabright femtosecond pulses, enabling time-resolved crystallography in “pump-probe” approaches. By determining a series of structures at specific time points after activation, molecular movies can be produced. Only by revealing the detailed dynamics through molecular movies can the mechanisms be fully understood.

     

/

返回文章
返回