Preparing monodisperse macromolecular samples for successful biological small-angle X-ray and neutron-scattering experiments.

ABSTRACT: Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) are techniques used to extract structural parameters and determine the overall structures and shapes of biological macromolecules, complexes and assemblies in solution. The scattering intensities measured from a sample contain contributions from all atoms within the illuminated sample volume, including the solvent and buffer components, as well as the macromolecules of interest. To obtain structural information, it is essential to prepare an exactly matched solvent blank so that background scattering contributions can be accurately subtracted from the sample scattering to obtain the net scattering from the macromolecules in the sample. In addition, sample heterogeneity caused by contaminants, aggregates, mismatch

SUBMITTER: Jeffries CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5402874 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature