title: Single molecule diffraction.
abstract: For solving the atomic structure of organic molecules such as small proteins which are difficult to crystallize, the use of a jet of doped liquid helium droplets traversing a continuous high energy electron beam is proposed as a means of obtaining electron diffraction patterns (serial crystallography). Organic molecules (such as small proteins) within the droplet (and within a vitreous ice jacket) may be aligned by use of a polarized laser beam. Iterative methods for solving the phase problem are indicated. Comparisons with a related plan for pulsed x-ray diffraction from single proteins in a molecular beam are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1504, USA.
authors.forename: J C H
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Doak
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D033362:Powder Diffraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D006371:Helium