Graphene as a protein crystal mounting material to reduce background scatter.
The overall signal-to-noise ratio per unit dose for X-ray diffraction data from protein crystals can be improved by reducing the mass and density of all material surrounding the crystals. This article demonstrates a path towards the practical ultimate in background reduction by use of atomically thin graphene sheets as a crystal mounting platform for protein crystals. The results show the potential for graphene in protein crystallography and other cases where X-ray scatter from the mounting material must be reduced and specimen dehydration prevented, such as in coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of microscopic objects.
Field of Biophysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Wierman
Jonathan S
JS
Alden
Chae Un
CU
Kim
Paul L
PL
McEuen
Sol M
SM
Gruner
X-ray diffraction; graphene; protein crystallography