Visualizing a protein quake with time-resolved X-ray scattering at a free-electron laser.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 25108686.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/nmeth.3067 and PMC identifier 4149589.
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Abstract
We describe a method to measure ultrafast protein structural changes using time-resolved wide-angle X-ray scattering at an X-ray free-electron laser. We demonstrated this approach using multiphoton excitation of the Blastochloris viridis photosynthetic reaction center, observing an ultrafast global conformational change that arises within picoseconds and precedes the propagation of heat through the protein. This provides direct structural evidence for a 'protein quake': the hypothesis that proteins rapidly dissipate energy through quake-like structural motions.
Medical subject headings
- Energy Transfer
- Lasers
- Phycobiliproteins
- Scattering, Small Angle
- X-Ray Diffraction