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Practical macromolecular cryocrystallography
Author(s) -
Pflugrath J. W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section f
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.572
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2053-230X
DOI - 10.1107/s2053230x15008304
Subject(s) - isopentane , macromolecule , flash (photography) , materials science , crystal (programming language) , reagent , radiation damage , chemistry , radiation , optics , organic chemistry , computer science , physics , biochemistry , programming language , catalysis
Cryocrystallography is an indispensable technique that is routinely used for single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data collection at temperatures near 100 K, where radiation damage is mitigated. Modern procedures and tools to cryoprotect and rapidly cool macromolecular crystals with a significant solvent fraction to below the glass‐transition phase of water are reviewed. Reagents and methods to help prevent the stresses that damage crystals when flash‐cooling are described. A method of using isopentane to assess whether cryogenic temperatures have been preserved when dismounting screened crystals is also presented.