Cryo bio-crystallography
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Cryo bio-crystallography is the application of crystallography to biological macromolecules at cryogenic temperatures.
Cryo crystallography enables X-ray data collection at cryogenic temperatures, typically 100 K.
- Crystals are transferred from the solution they have grown in (called mother liquor) to a solution with a cryo-protectant to prevent ice formation.
- Crystals are mounted in a glass fiber (as opposed to a capillary.)
- Crystals are cooled by dipping directly into liquid nitrogen and then placed in a cryo cold stream.
- Cryo cooled macromolecular crystals show reduced radiation damage by more than 70 times that at room temperature.
Advantages
- Significant improvement of resolution in data collection
- Reduced or eliminated radiation damage in crystals
