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A microfabricated fixed path length silicon sample holder improves background subtraction for cryoSAXS

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

J.B. Hopkins
A.M. Katz
S.P. Meisburger
M.A. Warkentin
R.E. Thorne
L. Pollack

Abstract

The application of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for high-throughput characterization of biological macromolecules in solution is limited by radiation damage. By cryocooling samples, radiation damage and required sample volumes can be reduced by orders of magnitude. However, the challenges of reproducibly creating the identically sized vitrified samples necessary for conventional background subtraction limit the widespread adoption of this method. Fixed path length silicon sample holders for cryoSAXS have been microfabricated to address these challenges. They have low background scattering and X-ray absorption, require only 640nl of sample, and allow reproducible sample cooling. Data collected in the sample holders from a nominal illuminated sample volume of 2.5nl are reproducible down to q ≃ 0.02Å-1, agree with previous cryoSAXS work and are of sufficient quality for reconstructions that match measured crystal structures. These sample holders thus allow faster, more routine cryoSAXS data collection. Additional development is required to reduce sample fracturing and improve data quality at low q. © 2015 International Union of Crystallography.

Date Published

Journal

Journal of Applied Crystallography

Volume

48

Issue

1

Number of Pages

227-237,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84922310984&doi=10.1107%2fS1600576714027782&partnerID=40&md5=cd3acdea132a12a96872099caa8669ec

DOI

10.1107/S1600576714027782

Research Area

Group (Lab)

Robert Thorne Group

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