A microfabricated fixed path length silicon sample holder improves background subtraction for cryoSAXS.

ABSTRACT: The application of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for high-throughput characterization of biological macromolecules in solution is limited by radiation damage. By cryocooling samples, radiation damage and required sample volumes can be reduced by orders of magnitude. However, the challenges of reproducibly creating the identically sized vitrified samples necessary for conventional background subtraction limit the widespread adoption of this method. Fixed path length silicon sample holders for cryoSAXS have been microfabricated to address these challenges. They have low background scattering and X-ray absorption, require only 640 nl of sample, and allow reproducible sample cooling. Data collected in the sample holders from a nominal illuminated sample volume of 2.5 nl are reproducible

SUBMITTER: Hopkins JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4453169 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature