short communications
A rapid and simple X-ray fluorescence-based method is reported for characterizing heavy atom derivatives of proteins for protein crystallography using multiple isomorphous replacement (MIR). MIR is a widely used technique for solving protein crystallographic structures which requires that a `heavy atom' be incorporated into the protein to provide a strong signal in the diffraction pattern. Current methods for determining the effectiveness of these protein-heavy atom reactions are not always successful. In contrast, X-ray fluorescence quickly determines the presence of heavy atom modifications of proteins and the stoichiometry of these modifications.
Keywords: protein crystallography; multiple isomorphous replacement; heavy atom derivatization; X-ray fluorescence.
Supporting information
Portable Document Format (PDF) file https://doi.org/10.1107/S0021889809000077/he5427sup1.pdf |