Macromolecular structures probed by combining single-shot free-electron laser diffraction with synchrotron coherent X-ray imaging.
Nanostructures formed from biological macromolecular complexes utilizing the self-assembly properties of smaller building blocks such as DNA and RNA hold promise for many applications, including sensing and drug delivery. New tools are required for their structural characterization. Intense, femtosecond X-ray pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers enable single-shot imaging allowing for instantaneous views of nanostructures at ambient temperatures. When combined judiciously with synchrotron X-rays of a complimentary nature, suitable for observing steady-state features, it is possible to perform ab initio structural investigation. Here we demonstrate a successful combination of femtosecond X-ray single-shot diffraction with an X-ray free-electron laser and coherent diffraction imaging with synchrotron X-rays to provide an insight into the nanostructure formation of a biological macromolecular complex: RNA interference microsponges. This newly introduced multimodal analysis with coherent X-rays can be applied to unveil nano-scale structural motifs from functional nanomaterials or biological nanocomplexes, without requiring a priori knowledge.
1] RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan [2] Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
Marcus
M
Gallagher-Jones
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Yoshitaka
Y
Bessho
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Sunam
S
Kim
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Jaehyun
J
Park
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Sangsoo
S
Kim
1] RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan [2] Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 790-784, Korea.
Daewoong
D
Nam
Department of Physics and Photon Science and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.
Chan
C
Kim
Department of Physics and Photon Science and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.
Yoonhee
Y
Kim
Department of Physics and Photon Science and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea.
Do Young
do Y
Noh
RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science, 7-1-26 Minatojima-Minamimach, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
Osamu
O
Miyashita
RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science, 7-1-26 Minatojima-Minamimach, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
Florence
F
Tama
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5198, Japan.
Yasumasa
Y
Joti
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5198, Japan.
Takashi
T
Kameshima
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Takaki
T
Hatsui
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5198, Japan.
Kensuke
K
Tono
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Yoshiki
Y
Kohmura
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Makina
M
Yabashi
Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
S Samar
SS
Hasnain
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Ishikawa
RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo 679-5148, Japan.
Changyong
C
Song
D007834:Lasers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014965:X-Rays
D046911:Macromolecular Substances