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High-pressure small-angle X-ray scattering cell for biological solutions and soft materials

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

D.K. Rai
R.E. Gillilan
Q. Huang
R. Miller
E. Ting
A. Lazarev
M.W. Tate
Sol Gruner

Abstract

Pressure is a fundamental thermodynamic parameter controlling the behavior of biological macromolecules. Pressure affects protein denaturation, kinetic parameters of enzymes, ligand binding, membrane permeability, ion transduction, expression of genetic information, viral infectivity, protein association and aggregation, and chemical processes. In many cases pressure alters the molecular shape. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a primary method to determine the shape and size of macromolecules. However, relatively few SAXS cells described in the literature are suitable for use at high pressures and with biological materials. Described here is a novel high-pressure SAXS sample cell that is suitable for general facility use by prioritization of ease of sample loading, temperature control, mechanical stability and X-ray background minimization. Cell operation at 14keV is described, providing a q range of 0.01 < q < 0.7Å-1, pressures of 0-400MPa and an achievable temperature range of 0-80°C. The high-pressure SAXS cell has recently been commissioned on the ID7A beamline at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source and is available to users on a peer-reviewed proposal basis. © 2021 International Union of Crystallography. All rights reserved.

Date Published

Journal

Journal of Applied Crystallography

Volume

54

Number of Pages

111-122,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85106516281&doi=10.1107%2fS1600576720014752&partnerID=40&md5=51981e076254dc368b54e24a00435994

DOI

10.1107/S1600576720014752

Research Area

Group (Lab)

Sol M. Gruner Group

Funding Source

NNCI-1542081
1-P30-GM124166-01A1
DMR-1829070

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