HIGH-PRESSURE CRYSTALLOGRAPHY OF BIOMOLECULES: RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS. I - INTRODUCTION, MATERIALS AND METHODS

摘要

High-pressure molecular biophysics is a developing field for three main reasons. Pressure has a unique potential, in particular for the exploration of the energy landscape of biomolecules. Progress in instrumentation has extended the range of biophysical techniques under pressure and often relaxed technical constraints on sample confinement. Two high-resolution structural methods are now available at high pressure, NMR and macromolecular crystallography (HPMX). We describe materials and methods of HPMX, now a full-fledged technique taking advantage of purposely-built diamond-anvil cell, ultra-short wavelength synchrotron radiation and improved crystal-loading procedures.