%0 Conference Paper
%A Schrader, Tobias Erich
%T Neutron protein crystallography: New developments and recent application examples
%I Universität Wien
%M FZJ-2019-01327
%D 2018
%X With the advent of new instruments (e. g. Imagine at HFIR, MANDI at SNS and BIODIFF at FRMII) neutron protein crystallography has seen a resurrection from the past pioneering work by Goldstein et al. A growing user community has greatly enhanced the outcome of the existing neutron diffractometers specialized on protein crystallography. Measurements at 100 K are now routinely possible at many neutron diffractometers. Efforts to increase the flux at the sample position and to reduce the background at the detector push the limit of crystal volumes down to 0.1 mm3. The neutron single crystal diffractometer BIODIFF at the research reactor Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) is is a joint project of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) and the FRM II. BIODIFF is designed as a monochromatic instrument with a narrow wavelength spread of less than 3 % where the central wavelength can be adapted between 2.7 and 5.6 Å. Some typical application examples to illustrate the power of neutron protein crystallography will be given. Time permitting I will report on two of my own research projects. In one collaboration with the TUM engineering department we try to optimize the crystallization of the protein Alcoholdehydrogenase (ADH) by mutations on the solvent exposed surface of the protein. The thermodynamic effects on the crystal stability are simulated with all-atom MD-simulations. The MD-results will be compared to the actually observed crystallization behaviour of these mutants. In a second project a crystallization apparatus is developed which starts where the crystallization for x-ray sized crystals ends: At a tiny crystal and known crystallization conditions for it. The apparatus is intended to be used to increase the size of this crystal by using it as a seed crystal being put into a mother liquor containing new supply of highly concentrated protein. Fine temperature control and an optical control of the actual crystal size will be provided with this apparatus. The idea behind this apparatus is of course the growth of crystals which have a sufficient volume for neutron protein crystallography.
%B Mondern Concepts Seminar, Universität Wien
%C 21 Jun 2018 - 22 Jun 2018, Wien (Austria)
Y2 21 Jun 2018 - 22 Jun 2018
M2 Wien, Austria
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)31
%9 Talk (non-conference)
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/860659