A beginner’s guide to neutron macromolecular crystallography

Hydrogen atoms drive biological structure and function, but the lightest element is often unseen in three-dimensional macromolecule structures, hampering our understanding of biochemical processes. This guide will i) present how neutron crystallography uniquely reveals the experimental positions of hydrogen atoms and resolves mechanical controversies, ii) briefly introduce beamlines at neutron facilities, iii) discuss sample requirements and preparation and iv) familiarize the reader with neutron data and refinement statistics.